HESI MATERNITY & PEDIATRICS EXAM 2026/2027 |
Answered Correctly Updated | Verified Edition |
Maternal-Child Nursing | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Maternity (Prenatal, Intrapartum, Postpartum) (Questions 1-45)
Subsection 1A: Prenatal Care (Questions 1-15)
Q1: A pregnant client's last menstrual period (LMP) was March 10, 2026. Using
Naegele's rule, what is her estimated date of delivery (EDD)?
A. November 3, 2026
B. December 3, 2026
C. December 17, 2026 [CORRECT]
D. January 17, 2027
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Naegele's rule calculates EDD by subtracting 3 months from LMP and adding
7 days: March 10 minus 3 months = December 10, plus 7 days = December 17, 2026.
AWHONN standards confirm this calculation method. Distractor A subtracts incorrectly;
B misses the 7-day addition; D adds instead of subtracts months.
Q2: A pregnant client at 18 weeks gestation reports feeling fluttering movements in her
abdomen for the first time. This is documented as:
A. Ballottement
,B. Quickening [CORRECT]
C. Lightening
D. Engagement
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Quickening is the maternal perception of fetal movement, typically occurring
at 18-20 weeks for nulliparous clients and 16-18 weeks for multiparous clients. ACOG
guidelines document this milestone. Distractor A (ballottement) is a palpation
technique; C (lightening) occurs late in pregnancy when fetal head descends; D
(engagement) is when presenting part enters pelvic inlet.
Q3: A client's obstetric history is documented as G5 T2 P1 A1 L3. How many preterm
births has she had?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3 [CORRECT]
D. 5
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: GTPAL stands for Gravida (5 pregnancies), Term (2), Preterm (1), Abortions
(1), Living children (3). The "P" indicates 1 preterm birth. AWHONN documentation
standards use this system. Distractor A confuses Abortions with Preterm; B confuses
Term with Preterm; D uses Gravida number.
,Q4: At 24 weeks gestation, the fundal height should measure approximately:
A. 20 cm
B. 24 cm [CORRECT]
C. 28 cm
D. 32 cm
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Fundal height in centimeters approximates weeks of gestation from 20-32
weeks (±2 cm). At 24 weeks, the fundal height should measure approximately 24 cm.
AWHONN standards confirm this correlation. Distractor A is too low for gestational age;
C and D are too high.
Q5: A pregnant client at 8 weeks reports severe nausea and vomiting preventing fluid
intake for 24 hours. She has lost 5 pounds in one week. This indicates:
A. Normal morning sickness
B. Hyperemesis gravidarum [CORRECT]
C. Gestational diabetes
D. Preeclampsia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hyperemesis gravidarum is severe nausea/vomiting causing weight loss
(>5% prepregnancy weight), dehydration, and electrolyte imbalance requiring medical
intervention. ACOG guidelines differentiate this from normal morning sickness.
, Distractor A would not cause significant weight loss or dehydration; C presents later
with glucose intolerance; D presents after 20 weeks with hypertension.
Q6: The normal fetal heart rate (FHR) range during pregnancy is:
A. 90-120 bpm
B. 100-140 bpm
C. 110-160 bpm [CORRECT]
D. 120-180 bpm
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Normal FHR baseline is 110-160 bpm per ACOG and AWHONN guidelines.
Rates below 110 indicate bradycardia; above 160 indicate tachycardia. Distractor A is
bradycardic; B includes bradycardic range; D includes tachycardic range.
Q7: A pregnant client at 28 weeks reports leg cramps at night. Which recommendation
is most appropriate?
A. Increase calcium and magnesium intake [CORRECT]
B. Take diuretics before bed
C. Apply heat to legs during the day only
D. Avoid all exercise
Correct Answer: A
Answered Correctly Updated | Verified Edition |
Maternal-Child Nursing | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Maternity (Prenatal, Intrapartum, Postpartum) (Questions 1-45)
Subsection 1A: Prenatal Care (Questions 1-15)
Q1: A pregnant client's last menstrual period (LMP) was March 10, 2026. Using
Naegele's rule, what is her estimated date of delivery (EDD)?
A. November 3, 2026
B. December 3, 2026
C. December 17, 2026 [CORRECT]
D. January 17, 2027
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Naegele's rule calculates EDD by subtracting 3 months from LMP and adding
7 days: March 10 minus 3 months = December 10, plus 7 days = December 17, 2026.
AWHONN standards confirm this calculation method. Distractor A subtracts incorrectly;
B misses the 7-day addition; D adds instead of subtracts months.
Q2: A pregnant client at 18 weeks gestation reports feeling fluttering movements in her
abdomen for the first time. This is documented as:
A. Ballottement
,B. Quickening [CORRECT]
C. Lightening
D. Engagement
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Quickening is the maternal perception of fetal movement, typically occurring
at 18-20 weeks for nulliparous clients and 16-18 weeks for multiparous clients. ACOG
guidelines document this milestone. Distractor A (ballottement) is a palpation
technique; C (lightening) occurs late in pregnancy when fetal head descends; D
(engagement) is when presenting part enters pelvic inlet.
Q3: A client's obstetric history is documented as G5 T2 P1 A1 L3. How many preterm
births has she had?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3 [CORRECT]
D. 5
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: GTPAL stands for Gravida (5 pregnancies), Term (2), Preterm (1), Abortions
(1), Living children (3). The "P" indicates 1 preterm birth. AWHONN documentation
standards use this system. Distractor A confuses Abortions with Preterm; B confuses
Term with Preterm; D uses Gravida number.
,Q4: At 24 weeks gestation, the fundal height should measure approximately:
A. 20 cm
B. 24 cm [CORRECT]
C. 28 cm
D. 32 cm
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Fundal height in centimeters approximates weeks of gestation from 20-32
weeks (±2 cm). At 24 weeks, the fundal height should measure approximately 24 cm.
AWHONN standards confirm this correlation. Distractor A is too low for gestational age;
C and D are too high.
Q5: A pregnant client at 8 weeks reports severe nausea and vomiting preventing fluid
intake for 24 hours. She has lost 5 pounds in one week. This indicates:
A. Normal morning sickness
B. Hyperemesis gravidarum [CORRECT]
C. Gestational diabetes
D. Preeclampsia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hyperemesis gravidarum is severe nausea/vomiting causing weight loss
(>5% prepregnancy weight), dehydration, and electrolyte imbalance requiring medical
intervention. ACOG guidelines differentiate this from normal morning sickness.
, Distractor A would not cause significant weight loss or dehydration; C presents later
with glucose intolerance; D presents after 20 weeks with hypertension.
Q6: The normal fetal heart rate (FHR) range during pregnancy is:
A. 90-120 bpm
B. 100-140 bpm
C. 110-160 bpm [CORRECT]
D. 120-180 bpm
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Normal FHR baseline is 110-160 bpm per ACOG and AWHONN guidelines.
Rates below 110 indicate bradycardia; above 160 indicate tachycardia. Distractor A is
bradycardic; B includes bradycardic range; D includes tachycardic range.
Q7: A pregnant client at 28 weeks reports leg cramps at night. Which recommendation
is most appropriate?
A. Increase calcium and magnesium intake [CORRECT]
B. Take diuretics before bed
C. Apply heat to legs during the day only
D. Avoid all exercise
Correct Answer: A
