HESI OBSTETRICS ACTUAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE
2026
▶ A client at 28 weeks gestation calls the antepartal clinic and states that
she is experiencing a small amount of vaginal bleeding which she
describes as bright red. She further states that she is not experiencing any
uterine contractions or abdominal pain. What instruction should the nurse
provide?
a. come to the clinic today for an ultrasound
b. go immediately to the emergency room
c. lie on your left side for about one hour and see if the bleeding stops
d. bring a urine specimen to the lab tomorrow to determine if you have a
UTI. Answer: a. come to the clinic today for an ultrasound
▶ Which nursing intervention is helpful in relieving "afterpains"?
a. using relaxation breathing techniques
b. using a breast pump
c. massaging the abdomen
d. giving oxytocic medications. Answer: a. using relaxation breathing
techniques
▶ The nurse is counseling a couple who has sought information about
conceiving. For teaching purposes, the nurses should know that ovulation
usually occurs
a. two weeks before menstruation
b. immediately after menstruation
c. immediately before menstruation
d. three weeks before menstruation. Answer: a. two weeks before
menstruation
▶ A client who has an autosomal dominant inherited disorder is exploring
family planning options and the risk of transmission of the disorder to an
infant. The nurses's response should be based on what information?
a. males inherit the disorder with a greater frequency than females
,b. each pregnancy carries a 50% chance of inheriting the disorder
c. the disorder occurs in 25% of pregnancies
d. all children will be carriers of the disorder. Answer: b. each pregnancy
carries 50% chance of inheriting the disorder
▶ The nurse is assessing a 3 day old infant with a cephalohematoma in the
newborn nursery. Which assessment finding should the nurse report to the
healthcare provider?
a. yellowish tinge to the skin
b. Babinski reflex present bilaterally
c. pink papular rash on the face
d. Moro reflex noted after a loud noise. Answer: a. yellowish tinge to the
skin
▶ A woman who had a miscarriage 6 months ago becomes pregnant.
Which instruction is most important for the nurse to provide this client?
a. elevate lower legs while resting
b. increase caloric intake by 200 to 300 calories per day
c. increase water intake to 8 full glasses per day
d. take prescribed multivitamin and mineral supplements. Answer: d. take
prescribed multivitamin and mineral supplements
▶ Which assessment finding should the nursery nurse report to the
pediatric healthcare provider?
a. blood glucose level of 45
b. blood pressure of 82/45
c. non-bulging anterior fontanel
d. central cyanosis when crying. Answer: d. central cyanosis when crying
▶ 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. Answer: b. extend the leg and dorsiflex
the foot
▶ A new mother asks the nurse "How do I know that my daughter is getting
enough breast milk?" Which explanation should the nurse provide?
a. weigh the baby daily and if she is gaining weight she is eating enough
,b. your milk is sufficient if the baby is voiding pale straw-colored urine 6 to
10 times a day
c. offer the baby extra bottle milk after her feeding and see if she is still
hungry
d. if you're concerned you might consider bottle feeding so that you can
monitor her intake. Answer: b. your milk is sufficient if the bay is voiding
pale straw-colored urine 6 to 10 times a day
▶ On admission to the prenatal clinic, a 23 year old woman tells the nurse
that her last menstrual period began on February 15 that previously her
periods were regular. Her pregnancy test is positive. This client's expected
date of delivery
a. November 22
b. November 8
c. December 22
d. October 22. Answer: a. November 22
▶ An off-duty finds a woman in a supermarket parking lot delivering an
infant while her husband is screaming for someone to help his wife. Which
intervention has the highest priority?
a. provide as much privacy as possible for the woman
b. use a thread to tie off the umbilical cord
c. put the newborn to breast
d. reassure the husband and try to keep him calm. Answer: c. put the
newborn to breast
▶ During a prenatal visit, the nurse discusses with a client the effects of
smoking on the fetus. When compared with nonsmokers, mothers who
smoke during pregnancy tend to produce infants who have
a. a higher rate of congenital abnormalities
b. respiratory distres
c. lower birth weights
d. lower APGAR scores. Answer: c. lower birth weights
▶ A new mother who has just had her first baby says to the nurse, "I saw
the baby in the recovery room. She sure has a funny looking head." Which
response by the nurse is best?
a. this is not an unusual shaped head especially for a first baby
b. that is normal the head will return to a round shape within 7 to 10 days
, c. it may look funny to you but newborn babies are often born with heads
like your baby's
d. your pelvis was too small so the baby's head had to adjust to the birth
canal. Answer: b. that is normal the head will return to a round shape
within 7 to 10 days
▶ After each feeding, a 3 day old newborn is spitting up large amounts of
newborn formula, a nonfat cow's milk formula. The pediatric healthcare
provider changes the neonates's formula to Similac. What information
should the nurse provide to the mother about the newly prescribed
formula?
a. Enfamil formula is demineralized whey formula that is needed with
diarrhea
b. The new formula is a coconut milk formula used with babies with
impaired fat absorption
c. the new formula is a casein protein source that is low in phenylalanine
d. similac is a soy based formula that contains sucrose. Answer: d. similac
is a soy based formula that contains sucrose
▶ A client who is attending antepartum classes asks the nurse why her
healthcare provider has prescribed iron tablets. The nurse's response is
based on what knowledge?
a. iron absorption is decreased in the GI tract during pregnancy
b. it is difficult to consume 18 mg of additional iron by diet alone
c. iron is needed to prevent megaloblastic anemia in the last trimester
d. supplementary iron is more efficiently utilized during pregnancy.
Answer: b. it is difficult to consume 18 mg of additional iron by diet alone
▶ When explaining postpartum blues to a client who is 1 day postpartum,
which symptoms should the nurse include in the teaching plan? (select all
that apply)
a. panic attacks
b. tearfulness
c. decreased need for sleep
d. mood swings
e. disinterest in the infant. Answer: b, d
▶ The nurse observes a new mother avoiding eye contact with her
newborn. Which action should the nurse take?
a. recognize this is a common reaction in new mothers
QUESTIONS AND COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE
2026
▶ A client at 28 weeks gestation calls the antepartal clinic and states that
she is experiencing a small amount of vaginal bleeding which she
describes as bright red. She further states that she is not experiencing any
uterine contractions or abdominal pain. What instruction should the nurse
provide?
a. come to the clinic today for an ultrasound
b. go immediately to the emergency room
c. lie on your left side for about one hour and see if the bleeding stops
d. bring a urine specimen to the lab tomorrow to determine if you have a
UTI. Answer: a. come to the clinic today for an ultrasound
▶ Which nursing intervention is helpful in relieving "afterpains"?
a. using relaxation breathing techniques
b. using a breast pump
c. massaging the abdomen
d. giving oxytocic medications. Answer: a. using relaxation breathing
techniques
▶ The nurse is counseling a couple who has sought information about
conceiving. For teaching purposes, the nurses should know that ovulation
usually occurs
a. two weeks before menstruation
b. immediately after menstruation
c. immediately before menstruation
d. three weeks before menstruation. Answer: a. two weeks before
menstruation
▶ A client who has an autosomal dominant inherited disorder is exploring
family planning options and the risk of transmission of the disorder to an
infant. The nurses's response should be based on what information?
a. males inherit the disorder with a greater frequency than females
,b. each pregnancy carries a 50% chance of inheriting the disorder
c. the disorder occurs in 25% of pregnancies
d. all children will be carriers of the disorder. Answer: b. each pregnancy
carries 50% chance of inheriting the disorder
▶ The nurse is assessing a 3 day old infant with a cephalohematoma in the
newborn nursery. Which assessment finding should the nurse report to the
healthcare provider?
a. yellowish tinge to the skin
b. Babinski reflex present bilaterally
c. pink papular rash on the face
d. Moro reflex noted after a loud noise. Answer: a. yellowish tinge to the
skin
▶ A woman who had a miscarriage 6 months ago becomes pregnant.
Which instruction is most important for the nurse to provide this client?
a. elevate lower legs while resting
b. increase caloric intake by 200 to 300 calories per day
c. increase water intake to 8 full glasses per day
d. take prescribed multivitamin and mineral supplements. Answer: d. take
prescribed multivitamin and mineral supplements
▶ Which assessment finding should the nursery nurse report to the
pediatric healthcare provider?
a. blood glucose level of 45
b. blood pressure of 82/45
c. non-bulging anterior fontanel
d. central cyanosis when crying. Answer: d. central cyanosis when crying
▶ 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. Answer: b. extend the leg and dorsiflex
the foot
▶ A new mother asks the nurse "How do I know that my daughter is getting
enough breast milk?" Which explanation should the nurse provide?
a. weigh the baby daily and if she is gaining weight she is eating enough
,b. your milk is sufficient if the baby is voiding pale straw-colored urine 6 to
10 times a day
c. offer the baby extra bottle milk after her feeding and see if she is still
hungry
d. if you're concerned you might consider bottle feeding so that you can
monitor her intake. Answer: b. your milk is sufficient if the bay is voiding
pale straw-colored urine 6 to 10 times a day
▶ On admission to the prenatal clinic, a 23 year old woman tells the nurse
that her last menstrual period began on February 15 that previously her
periods were regular. Her pregnancy test is positive. This client's expected
date of delivery
a. November 22
b. November 8
c. December 22
d. October 22. Answer: a. November 22
▶ An off-duty finds a woman in a supermarket parking lot delivering an
infant while her husband is screaming for someone to help his wife. Which
intervention has the highest priority?
a. provide as much privacy as possible for the woman
b. use a thread to tie off the umbilical cord
c. put the newborn to breast
d. reassure the husband and try to keep him calm. Answer: c. put the
newborn to breast
▶ During a prenatal visit, the nurse discusses with a client the effects of
smoking on the fetus. When compared with nonsmokers, mothers who
smoke during pregnancy tend to produce infants who have
a. a higher rate of congenital abnormalities
b. respiratory distres
c. lower birth weights
d. lower APGAR scores. Answer: c. lower birth weights
▶ A new mother who has just had her first baby says to the nurse, "I saw
the baby in the recovery room. She sure has a funny looking head." Which
response by the nurse is best?
a. this is not an unusual shaped head especially for a first baby
b. that is normal the head will return to a round shape within 7 to 10 days
, c. it may look funny to you but newborn babies are often born with heads
like your baby's
d. your pelvis was too small so the baby's head had to adjust to the birth
canal. Answer: b. that is normal the head will return to a round shape
within 7 to 10 days
▶ After each feeding, a 3 day old newborn is spitting up large amounts of
newborn formula, a nonfat cow's milk formula. The pediatric healthcare
provider changes the neonates's formula to Similac. What information
should the nurse provide to the mother about the newly prescribed
formula?
a. Enfamil formula is demineralized whey formula that is needed with
diarrhea
b. The new formula is a coconut milk formula used with babies with
impaired fat absorption
c. the new formula is a casein protein source that is low in phenylalanine
d. similac is a soy based formula that contains sucrose. Answer: d. similac
is a soy based formula that contains sucrose
▶ A client who is attending antepartum classes asks the nurse why her
healthcare provider has prescribed iron tablets. The nurse's response is
based on what knowledge?
a. iron absorption is decreased in the GI tract during pregnancy
b. it is difficult to consume 18 mg of additional iron by diet alone
c. iron is needed to prevent megaloblastic anemia in the last trimester
d. supplementary iron is more efficiently utilized during pregnancy.
Answer: b. it is difficult to consume 18 mg of additional iron by diet alone
▶ When explaining postpartum blues to a client who is 1 day postpartum,
which symptoms should the nurse include in the teaching plan? (select all
that apply)
a. panic attacks
b. tearfulness
c. decreased need for sleep
d. mood swings
e. disinterest in the infant. Answer: b, d
▶ The nurse observes a new mother avoiding eye contact with her
newborn. Which action should the nurse take?
a. recognize this is a common reaction in new mothers
