HESI OBSTETRICS PRACTICE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED SOLUTIONS
2026
▶ A pregnant client tells the nurse that the first day of her last menstrual
period was August 2, 2006. Based on Nagele's rule, what is the estimated
date of delivery?
a. April 25, 2007
b. May 9, 2007
c. May 29, 2007
d. June 2, 2007. Answer: b. May 9, 2007
▶ The nurse is performing a AGA on a full-term newborn during the first
hour of transition using the Dubowitz scale. Based on this assessment, the
nurse determines that the neonate has a maturity rating of 40 weeks.
Which findings should the nurse identify to determine if the neonate is
SGA? (Select all that apply.)
a. admission weight of 4 lbs 15 oz
b. head to heel length of 17 in
c. frontal occipital circumference of 12.5 in
d. skin smooth with visible veins and abundant vernix
e. anterior plantar crease and smooth heel surfaces
f. full flexion of all extremities in resting supine position. Answer: a, b, c
▶ The nurse assess a client admitted to the labor and delivery unit and
obtains the following data: BP 110/68, FHR 110 bpm, cervix 1 cm dilated
and uneffaced. Based on these assessment findings, what intervention
should the nurse implement?
a. insert a fetal monitor
b. assess for cervical changes q1H
c. monitor bleeding from IV sites
d. perform Leopold's maneuvers. Answer: c. monitor for bleeding from IV
sites
,▶ Immediately after birth a newborn infant is suctioned, dried, and placed
under a radiant warmer. The infant has spontaneous respirations and the
nurse assess an apical heart rate of 80 bpm and respirations 20. What
action should the nurse perform next?
a. initiate positive pressure ventilation
b. intervene after one minute APGAR is assessed
c. initiate CPR on the infant
d. assess the infant's blood glucose level. Answer: a. initiate positive
pressure ventilation
▶ A client with no prenatal care arrives at the labor unit screaming, "The
baby is coming!" The nurse performs a vaginal examination that reveals the
cervix is 3 cm dilated and 75% effaced. What additional information is most
important for the nurse to obtain?
a. gravidity and parity
b. time and amount of last oral intake
c. date of last normal menstrual period
d. frequency and intensity of contractions. Answer: c. date of last normal
menstrual period
▶ A mutigravida client at 41 weeks gestation present in the labor and
delivery unit after a non-stress test indicated that the fetus is experiencing
some difficulties in utero. Which diagnostic test should the nurse prepare
the client for additional information about fetal status?
a. biophysical profile
b. ultrasound for fetal abnormalities
c. maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein screening
d. percutaneous umbilical blood sampling. Answer: a. biophysical profile
▶ A client receiving epidural anesthesia begins to experience nausea and
becomes pale and clammy. What intervention should the nurse implement
first?
a. raise the foot of the bed
b. assess for vaginal bleeding
c. evaluate the fetal heart rate
d. take the client's blood pressure. Answer: a. raise the foot of the bed
▶ 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
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED SOLUTIONS
2026
▶ A pregnant client tells the nurse that the first day of her last menstrual
period was August 2, 2006. Based on Nagele's rule, what is the estimated
date of delivery?
a. April 25, 2007
b. May 9, 2007
c. May 29, 2007
d. June 2, 2007. Answer: b. May 9, 2007
▶ The nurse is performing a AGA on a full-term newborn during the first
hour of transition using the Dubowitz scale. Based on this assessment, the
nurse determines that the neonate has a maturity rating of 40 weeks.
Which findings should the nurse identify to determine if the neonate is
SGA? (Select all that apply.)
a. admission weight of 4 lbs 15 oz
b. head to heel length of 17 in
c. frontal occipital circumference of 12.5 in
d. skin smooth with visible veins and abundant vernix
e. anterior plantar crease and smooth heel surfaces
f. full flexion of all extremities in resting supine position. Answer: a, b, c
▶ The nurse assess a client admitted to the labor and delivery unit and
obtains the following data: BP 110/68, FHR 110 bpm, cervix 1 cm dilated
and uneffaced. Based on these assessment findings, what intervention
should the nurse implement?
a. insert a fetal monitor
b. assess for cervical changes q1H
c. monitor bleeding from IV sites
d. perform Leopold's maneuvers. Answer: c. monitor for bleeding from IV
sites
,▶ Immediately after birth a newborn infant is suctioned, dried, and placed
under a radiant warmer. The infant has spontaneous respirations and the
nurse assess an apical heart rate of 80 bpm and respirations 20. What
action should the nurse perform next?
a. initiate positive pressure ventilation
b. intervene after one minute APGAR is assessed
c. initiate CPR on the infant
d. assess the infant's blood glucose level. Answer: a. initiate positive
pressure ventilation
▶ A client with no prenatal care arrives at the labor unit screaming, "The
baby is coming!" The nurse performs a vaginal examination that reveals the
cervix is 3 cm dilated and 75% effaced. What additional information is most
important for the nurse to obtain?
a. gravidity and parity
b. time and amount of last oral intake
c. date of last normal menstrual period
d. frequency and intensity of contractions. Answer: c. date of last normal
menstrual period
▶ A mutigravida client at 41 weeks gestation present in the labor and
delivery unit after a non-stress test indicated that the fetus is experiencing
some difficulties in utero. Which diagnostic test should the nurse prepare
the client for additional information about fetal status?
a. biophysical profile
b. ultrasound for fetal abnormalities
c. maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein screening
d. percutaneous umbilical blood sampling. Answer: a. biophysical profile
▶ A client receiving epidural anesthesia begins to experience nausea and
becomes pale and clammy. What intervention should the nurse implement
first?
a. raise the foot of the bed
b. assess for vaginal bleeding
c. evaluate the fetal heart rate
d. take the client's blood pressure. Answer: a. raise the foot of the bed
▶ 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
