HESI OB/MATERNITY EXAM PRACTICE QUESTIONS
WITH FULLY SOLVED ANSWERS.
A 38 week primigravida who works as a secretary and sits at a computer 8 hrs. each day
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
tells the nurse that her feet have begun to swell. Which instruction would be most
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
effective in preventing pooling blood in the lower extremities?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
a. avoid constrictive clothing
_ _ _
b. move every hour
_ _ _
c. wear support stockings
_ _ _
d. reduce salt in her diet -- Correct Answer ✔✔ b. move every hour
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
The total bilirubin level of a 36 hour breastfeeding newborn is 14 mg/dl. Based on this
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
finding which intervention should the nurse implement?
_ _ _ _ _ _
a. feed the newborn sterile water hourly
_ _ _ _ _ _
b. assess the newborn's blood glucose level
_ _ _ _ _ _
c. provide phototherapy for 30 mins q8h
_ _ _ _ _ _
d. encourage the mother to breastfeed frequently -- Correct Answer ✔✔ c. encourage
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
the mother to breastfeed frequently
_ _ _ _
A newborn infant is brought to the nursery from the birthing suite. The nurse notices
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
that the infant is breathing satisfactorily but appears dusky. What action should the nurse
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_take first? _
a. notify the pediatrician immediately
_ _ _ _
b. position the infant on the right side
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
c. suction the infant's nares then the oral cavity
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
d. check the infant's oxygen saturation rate -- Correct Answer ✔✔ d. check the infant's
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
oxygen saturation rate _ _
A 28 year old client in active labor complains of cramps in her leg. What intervention
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
should the nurse implement.
_ _ _ _
A. massage the calf and foot
_ _ _ _ _
B. extend the leg and dorsiflex the foot
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
,C. lower the leg off the side of the bed
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
D. elevate the leg above the heart. -- Correct Answer ✔✔ B. Extend the leg and
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
dorsiflex the foot. _ _
The nurse instructs a laboring client to use accelerated blow breathing. The client begins
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
to complain of tingling finger and dizziness. What action should the nurse take?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
a. administer o2 by face mask
_ _ _ _ _
b. notify the HCP for the client's syndrome
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
c. have the client breathe into her cupped hands
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
d. check the client's BP and fetal HR/ -- Correct Answer ✔✔ c. have the client breathe
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
into her cupped hands.
_ _ _
When assessing a client who is at 12 week gestation, the nurse recommends that she and
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_her husband consider attending childbirth preparation classes. When is the best time for
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
the couple to attend these classes?
_ _ _ _ _
A. at 16 weeks gestation
_ _ _ _
B.at 20 weeks gestation
_ _ _ _
C. at 24 weeks gestation
_ _ _ _ _
D. at 30 weeks gestation -- Correct Answer ✔✔ D. At 30 weeks gestation.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
On admission to the prenatal clinic, a 23-year-old woman tells the nurse that her last
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
menstrual period began on February 15, and that previously her periods were regular.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Her pregnancy test is positive. This client's expected date of delivery (EDD) is
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
a. November 22.
_ _ _
b. November 8.
_ _ _
c. December 22.
_ _
d. October 22. -- Correct Answer ✔✔ a. November 22.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
The nurse is counseling a woman who wants to become pregnant. The woman tells the
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
nurse that she has a 36-day menstrual cycle and the first day of her last menstrual period
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
was January 8. The nurse correctly calculates that the woman's next fertile period is
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
a. January 14-15.
_ _
b. January 22-23.
_ _ _
c. January 30-31.
_ _ _
d. February 6-7. -- Correct Answer ✔✔ c. January 30-31.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
,A client at 32-weeks gestation is hospitalized with severe pregnancy-induced
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
hypertension (PIH), and magnesium sulfate is prescribed to control the symptoms.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Which assessment finding indicates the therapeutic drug level has been achieved?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
A. 4+ reflexes.
_ _ _
B. Urinary output of 50 ml per hour.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
C.A decrease in respiratory rate from 24 to 16.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
D. A decreased body temperature. -- Correct Answer ✔✔ C.A decrease in respiratory
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
rate from 24 to 16. _ _ _ _
Twenty minutes after a continuous epidural anesthetic is administered, a laboring client's
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
blood pressure drops from 120/80 to 90/60. What action should the nurse take?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
A. Notify the healthcare provider or anesthesiologist immediately.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
B. Continue to assess the blood pressure q5 minutes.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
C. Place the woman in a lateral position.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
D. Turn off the continuous epidural. -- Correct Answer ✔✔ C. Place the woman in a
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
lateral position. _
At 14-weeks gestation, a client arrives at the Emergency Center complaining of a dull
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
pain in the right lower quadrant of her abdomen. The nurse obtains a blood sample and
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
initiates an IV. Thirty minutes after admission, the client reports feeling a sharp
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
abdominal pain and a shoulder pain. Assessment findings include diaphoresis, a heart rate
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
of 120 beats/minute, and a blood pressure of 86/48. Which action should the nurse
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
implement next? _
_a. Check the hematocrit results.
_ _ _ _
_b. Administer pain medication.
_ _ _
_c. Increase the rate of IV fluids.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
_d. Monitor client for contractions. -- Correct Answer ✔✔ c. increase the rate of IV
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
fluids
A woman who thinks she could be pregnant calls her neighbor, a nurse, to ask when she
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
could use a home pregnancy test to diagnose pregnancy. Which response is best?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
a. a home pregnancy test can be used right after your first missed period
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
b. these tests are most accurate after you have missed your second period
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
c. home pregnancy tests often give false positives and should not be trusted
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
, d. the test can provide accurate information when used right after ovulation -- Correct
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Answer ✔✔ a. a home pregnancy test can be used right after your first missed period
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
A newborn, whose mother is HIV positive, is scheduled for follow-up assessments. The
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
nurse knows that the most likely presenting symptom for a pediatric client with AIDS is:
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
a. shortness of breath
_ _ _
b. joint pain
_ _
c. a persistent cold
_ _ _
d. organomegaly -- Correct Answer ✔✔ c. a persistent cold
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Twenty minutes after a continuous epidural anesthetic is administered, a laboring client's
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
blood pressure drops from 120/80 to 90/60. What action should the nurse take?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
a. notify the healthcare provider or anesthesiologist
_ _ _ _ _ _
b. continue to assess the blood pressure q5min
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
c. place the woman in a lateral position
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
d. turn off continuous epidural -- Correct Answer ✔✔ c. place the woman in a lateral
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
position
In developing a teaching plan for expectant parents, the nurse plans to include
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
information about when the parents can expect the infant's fontanels to close. The nurse
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
bases the explanation on knowledge that for the normal newborn, the
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
a. anterior fontanel closes at 2 to 4 months and the posterior by the end of the first
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
week
b. anterior fontanel closes at 5 to 7 months and the posterior by the end of the week
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
c. anterior fontanel closes at 8 to 11 months and the posterior by the end of the second
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
week
d. anterior fontanel closes at 12 to 18 months and the posterior by the end of the
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
second month -- Correct Answer ✔✔ d. anterior fontanel closes at 12 to 18 months and
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_the posterior by the end of the second month
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
A client in active labor is admitted with preeclampsia. Which assessment finding is most
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
significant in planning this client's care? _ _ _ _ _
a. patellar reflex 4+
_ _ _
b. blood pressure 158/80
_ _ _
c. four hour urine output 240 ml
_ _ _ _ _ _
d. respiration 12/minute -- Correct Answer ✔✔ a. patellar reflex 4+
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
WITH FULLY SOLVED ANSWERS.
A 38 week primigravida who works as a secretary and sits at a computer 8 hrs. each day
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
tells the nurse that her feet have begun to swell. Which instruction would be most
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
effective in preventing pooling blood in the lower extremities?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
a. avoid constrictive clothing
_ _ _
b. move every hour
_ _ _
c. wear support stockings
_ _ _
d. reduce salt in her diet -- Correct Answer ✔✔ b. move every hour
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
The total bilirubin level of a 36 hour breastfeeding newborn is 14 mg/dl. Based on this
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
finding which intervention should the nurse implement?
_ _ _ _ _ _
a. feed the newborn sterile water hourly
_ _ _ _ _ _
b. assess the newborn's blood glucose level
_ _ _ _ _ _
c. provide phototherapy for 30 mins q8h
_ _ _ _ _ _
d. encourage the mother to breastfeed frequently -- Correct Answer ✔✔ c. encourage
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
the mother to breastfeed frequently
_ _ _ _
A newborn infant is brought to the nursery from the birthing suite. The nurse notices
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
that the infant is breathing satisfactorily but appears dusky. What action should the nurse
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_take first? _
a. notify the pediatrician immediately
_ _ _ _
b. position the infant on the right side
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
c. suction the infant's nares then the oral cavity
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
d. check the infant's oxygen saturation rate -- Correct Answer ✔✔ d. check the infant's
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
oxygen saturation rate _ _
A 28 year old client in active labor complains of cramps in her leg. What intervention
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
should the nurse implement.
_ _ _ _
A. massage the calf and foot
_ _ _ _ _
B. extend the leg and dorsiflex the foot
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
,C. lower the leg off the side of the bed
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
D. elevate the leg above the heart. -- Correct Answer ✔✔ B. Extend the leg and
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
dorsiflex the foot. _ _
The nurse instructs a laboring client to use accelerated blow breathing. The client begins
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
to complain of tingling finger and dizziness. What action should the nurse take?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
a. administer o2 by face mask
_ _ _ _ _
b. notify the HCP for the client's syndrome
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
c. have the client breathe into her cupped hands
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
d. check the client's BP and fetal HR/ -- Correct Answer ✔✔ c. have the client breathe
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
into her cupped hands.
_ _ _
When assessing a client who is at 12 week gestation, the nurse recommends that she and
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_her husband consider attending childbirth preparation classes. When is the best time for
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
the couple to attend these classes?
_ _ _ _ _
A. at 16 weeks gestation
_ _ _ _
B.at 20 weeks gestation
_ _ _ _
C. at 24 weeks gestation
_ _ _ _ _
D. at 30 weeks gestation -- Correct Answer ✔✔ D. At 30 weeks gestation.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
On admission to the prenatal clinic, a 23-year-old woman tells the nurse that her last
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
menstrual period began on February 15, and that previously her periods were regular.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Her pregnancy test is positive. This client's expected date of delivery (EDD) is
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
a. November 22.
_ _ _
b. November 8.
_ _ _
c. December 22.
_ _
d. October 22. -- Correct Answer ✔✔ a. November 22.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
The nurse is counseling a woman who wants to become pregnant. The woman tells the
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
nurse that she has a 36-day menstrual cycle and the first day of her last menstrual period
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
was January 8. The nurse correctly calculates that the woman's next fertile period is
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
a. January 14-15.
_ _
b. January 22-23.
_ _ _
c. January 30-31.
_ _ _
d. February 6-7. -- Correct Answer ✔✔ c. January 30-31.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
,A client at 32-weeks gestation is hospitalized with severe pregnancy-induced
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
hypertension (PIH), and magnesium sulfate is prescribed to control the symptoms.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Which assessment finding indicates the therapeutic drug level has been achieved?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
A. 4+ reflexes.
_ _ _
B. Urinary output of 50 ml per hour.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
C.A decrease in respiratory rate from 24 to 16.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
D. A decreased body temperature. -- Correct Answer ✔✔ C.A decrease in respiratory
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
rate from 24 to 16. _ _ _ _
Twenty minutes after a continuous epidural anesthetic is administered, a laboring client's
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
blood pressure drops from 120/80 to 90/60. What action should the nurse take?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
A. Notify the healthcare provider or anesthesiologist immediately.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
B. Continue to assess the blood pressure q5 minutes.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
C. Place the woman in a lateral position.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
D. Turn off the continuous epidural. -- Correct Answer ✔✔ C. Place the woman in a
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
lateral position. _
At 14-weeks gestation, a client arrives at the Emergency Center complaining of a dull
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
pain in the right lower quadrant of her abdomen. The nurse obtains a blood sample and
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
initiates an IV. Thirty minutes after admission, the client reports feeling a sharp
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
abdominal pain and a shoulder pain. Assessment findings include diaphoresis, a heart rate
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
of 120 beats/minute, and a blood pressure of 86/48. Which action should the nurse
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
implement next? _
_a. Check the hematocrit results.
_ _ _ _
_b. Administer pain medication.
_ _ _
_c. Increase the rate of IV fluids.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
_d. Monitor client for contractions. -- Correct Answer ✔✔ c. increase the rate of IV
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
fluids
A woman who thinks she could be pregnant calls her neighbor, a nurse, to ask when she
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
could use a home pregnancy test to diagnose pregnancy. Which response is best?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
a. a home pregnancy test can be used right after your first missed period
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
b. these tests are most accurate after you have missed your second period
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
c. home pregnancy tests often give false positives and should not be trusted
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
, d. the test can provide accurate information when used right after ovulation -- Correct
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Answer ✔✔ a. a home pregnancy test can be used right after your first missed period
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
A newborn, whose mother is HIV positive, is scheduled for follow-up assessments. The
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
nurse knows that the most likely presenting symptom for a pediatric client with AIDS is:
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
a. shortness of breath
_ _ _
b. joint pain
_ _
c. a persistent cold
_ _ _
d. organomegaly -- Correct Answer ✔✔ c. a persistent cold
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Twenty minutes after a continuous epidural anesthetic is administered, a laboring client's
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
blood pressure drops from 120/80 to 90/60. What action should the nurse take?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
a. notify the healthcare provider or anesthesiologist
_ _ _ _ _ _
b. continue to assess the blood pressure q5min
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
c. place the woman in a lateral position
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
d. turn off continuous epidural -- Correct Answer ✔✔ c. place the woman in a lateral
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
position
In developing a teaching plan for expectant parents, the nurse plans to include
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
information about when the parents can expect the infant's fontanels to close. The nurse
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
bases the explanation on knowledge that for the normal newborn, the
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
a. anterior fontanel closes at 2 to 4 months and the posterior by the end of the first
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
week
b. anterior fontanel closes at 5 to 7 months and the posterior by the end of the week
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
c. anterior fontanel closes at 8 to 11 months and the posterior by the end of the second
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
week
d. anterior fontanel closes at 12 to 18 months and the posterior by the end of the
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
second month -- Correct Answer ✔✔ d. anterior fontanel closes at 12 to 18 months and
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_the posterior by the end of the second month
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
A client in active labor is admitted with preeclampsia. Which assessment finding is most
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
significant in planning this client's care? _ _ _ _ _
a. patellar reflex 4+
_ _ _
b. blood pressure 158/80
_ _ _
c. four hour urine output 240 ml
_ _ _ _ _ _
d. respiration 12/minute -- Correct Answer ✔✔ a. patellar reflex 4+
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
