RN HESI Maternity 2026 | OB &
Maternal-Newborn Nursing Practice Test
with Rationales PDF
A primigravida arrives at the observation unit of the maternity unit because thinks
is in labor. The
nurse applies the external fetal heart monitor and determines that the fetal heart
rate is 140
beats/minute and the contractions are occurring irregularly every 10 to 15
minutes. What
assessment finding confirms to the nurse that the client is not labor at this time? -
Answer--Contractions decrease with walking.
A primipara has delivered a stillborn fetus at 30 weeks gestation. To asses the
parents in the grieving process which intervention is most for the nurse to
implement ?
A. explain the possible cause of the fetal demise
B. Provide a time for the parents to hold their infant in privacy
C. Encourage the parents to seek counseling within the next few weeks
D. Assist the couple to request autopsy - Answer--B. provide a time for the
parents to hold their infant in privacy
,What is the priority nursing assessment immediately following the birth of an
infant with esophageal atresia and a tracheoesophageal (the) fistula ?
A. body temperature
B. level of pain
C. time of first void
D. number of vessels in the cord - Answer--A. body temperature
What is the most important assessment for the nurse to conduct following the
administration of epidural anesthesia to a client who is at 40-weeks gestation?
A. Level of pain sensation
B. Station of presenting part
C. Variability of fetal heart rate
D. Maternal blood pressure - Answer--D. Maternal blood pressure
A 34-week primigravida with pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) is receiving
Ringer's Lactate 500 ml with magnesium sulfate 20 grams at the rate of 3
grams/hour. How many ml/hour should the nurse program the infusion pump?
(Enter numeric value only)
A. 120
B. 70
C. 65
D. 75 - Answer--D. 75
A mother of a 3-year-old boy has just given birth to a new baby girl. The little boy
asks the nurse, "Why is my baby sister eating my mommy's breast?" How should
the nurse respond? (Select all that apply)
A. Explain that newborns get milk from their mothers in this way
B. Reassure the older brother that it does not hurt his mother
C. Remind him that his mother breastfed him too
D. Suggest that the baby can also drink from a bottle
E. Clarify that breastfeeding is his mother's choice - Answer--A. Explain that
newborns get milk from their mothers in this way
B. Reassure the older brother that it does not hurt his mother
C. Remind him that his mother breastfed him too
,The nurse is examining an infant for possible cryptorchidism. Which exam
technique should be used?
A. Place the infant in side-lying to facilitate the exam
B. Hold the penis and retract the foreskin gently
C. Cleanse the penis with an antiseptic-soaked pad
D. Place the infant in warm room and use a calm approach - Answer--D. Place
the infant in warm room and use a calm approach
The nurse is planning care for a client at 30-weeks gestation who is experiencing
preterm labor. What maternal prescription is most important in preventing this
fetus from developing respiratory distress syndrome?
A. Betamethasone (Celestone) 12 mg deep IM
B. Butorphanol 1 mg IV push q2h PRN pain
C. Ampicillin 1 Gram IV push q8h
D. Terbutaline (Brethine) 0.25 mg subcutaneously q15 minutes x3 - Answer--A.
Betamethasone (Celestone) 12 mg deep IM
A 3-month-old with myelomeningocele and atonic bladder is catheterized every 4
hours to prevent urinary retention. The home health nurse notes that the child
has developed episodes of sneezing, urticaria, watery eyes, and a rash in the
diaper area. What action is most important for the nurse to take?
A. Auscultate the lungs for respiratory pneumonia.
B. Draw blood to analyze for streptococcal infection
C. Change to latex-free gloves when handling infant
D. Apply zinc oxide to perineum with each diaper change - Answer--C. Change to
latex-free gloves when handling infant
The nurse is caring for a female client, a primigravida, with preeclampsia.
Findings include +2 proteinuria, BP 172/112 mmHg, facial and hand swelling,
complaints of blurry vision and a severe frontal headache. Which medication
should the nurse anticipate for this client?
A. Clonidine hydrochloride
B. Carbamazepine
C. Furosemide
D. Magnesium sulfate - Answer--D. Magnesium sulfate
, A client at 35-weeks gestation complains of a "pain whenever the baby moves."
On assessment, the nurse notes the client's temperature to be 101.2F, with
severe abdominal or uterine tenderness on palpation. The nurse knows that
these findings are indicative of what condition?
A. Round ligament strain
B. Chorioamnionitis
C. Abruptio placenta
D. Viral infection. - Answer--B. Chorioamnionitis
A male infant with a 2-day history of fever and diarrhea is brought to a clinic by
his mother who tells the nurse that the child refuses to drink anything. The nurse
determines that the child has a weak cry with no tears. Which prescription is
most important to implement?
A. Provide a bottle of electrolyte solution
B. Infuse normal saline intravenously
C. Administer an antipyretic rectally
D. Apply external cooling blanket - Answer--B. Infuse normal saline intravenously
A 6-month old child who had a cleft-lip repair has elbow restraints in place. What
nursing intervention should the nurse plan to implement?
A. remove restraints q4h for 30 minutes and place gloves on the child's hands
B. record observations of the restraints q2h and ensure that they are in place at
all times
C. obtain the HCP advice as to when the restraints should be removed
D. remove restraints one at a time to provide ROM exercises - Answer--D.
remove restraints one at a time to provide ROM exercises
A new mother calls the nurse stating that she wants to start feeding her
6-month-old child something besides breast milk, but is concerned that the infant
is too young to start eating solid foods. How should the nurse respond?
A. encourage the mother to schedule a developmental assessment of the infant
B. advise the mother to wait at least another month before starting any solid
foods
C. instruct the mother to offer a few spoons of 2-3 pureed fruit at each meal
Maternal-Newborn Nursing Practice Test
with Rationales PDF
A primigravida arrives at the observation unit of the maternity unit because thinks
is in labor. The
nurse applies the external fetal heart monitor and determines that the fetal heart
rate is 140
beats/minute and the contractions are occurring irregularly every 10 to 15
minutes. What
assessment finding confirms to the nurse that the client is not labor at this time? -
Answer--Contractions decrease with walking.
A primipara has delivered a stillborn fetus at 30 weeks gestation. To asses the
parents in the grieving process which intervention is most for the nurse to
implement ?
A. explain the possible cause of the fetal demise
B. Provide a time for the parents to hold their infant in privacy
C. Encourage the parents to seek counseling within the next few weeks
D. Assist the couple to request autopsy - Answer--B. provide a time for the
parents to hold their infant in privacy
,What is the priority nursing assessment immediately following the birth of an
infant with esophageal atresia and a tracheoesophageal (the) fistula ?
A. body temperature
B. level of pain
C. time of first void
D. number of vessels in the cord - Answer--A. body temperature
What is the most important assessment for the nurse to conduct following the
administration of epidural anesthesia to a client who is at 40-weeks gestation?
A. Level of pain sensation
B. Station of presenting part
C. Variability of fetal heart rate
D. Maternal blood pressure - Answer--D. Maternal blood pressure
A 34-week primigravida with pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) is receiving
Ringer's Lactate 500 ml with magnesium sulfate 20 grams at the rate of 3
grams/hour. How many ml/hour should the nurse program the infusion pump?
(Enter numeric value only)
A. 120
B. 70
C. 65
D. 75 - Answer--D. 75
A mother of a 3-year-old boy has just given birth to a new baby girl. The little boy
asks the nurse, "Why is my baby sister eating my mommy's breast?" How should
the nurse respond? (Select all that apply)
A. Explain that newborns get milk from their mothers in this way
B. Reassure the older brother that it does not hurt his mother
C. Remind him that his mother breastfed him too
D. Suggest that the baby can also drink from a bottle
E. Clarify that breastfeeding is his mother's choice - Answer--A. Explain that
newborns get milk from their mothers in this way
B. Reassure the older brother that it does not hurt his mother
C. Remind him that his mother breastfed him too
,The nurse is examining an infant for possible cryptorchidism. Which exam
technique should be used?
A. Place the infant in side-lying to facilitate the exam
B. Hold the penis and retract the foreskin gently
C. Cleanse the penis with an antiseptic-soaked pad
D. Place the infant in warm room and use a calm approach - Answer--D. Place
the infant in warm room and use a calm approach
The nurse is planning care for a client at 30-weeks gestation who is experiencing
preterm labor. What maternal prescription is most important in preventing this
fetus from developing respiratory distress syndrome?
A. Betamethasone (Celestone) 12 mg deep IM
B. Butorphanol 1 mg IV push q2h PRN pain
C. Ampicillin 1 Gram IV push q8h
D. Terbutaline (Brethine) 0.25 mg subcutaneously q15 minutes x3 - Answer--A.
Betamethasone (Celestone) 12 mg deep IM
A 3-month-old with myelomeningocele and atonic bladder is catheterized every 4
hours to prevent urinary retention. The home health nurse notes that the child
has developed episodes of sneezing, urticaria, watery eyes, and a rash in the
diaper area. What action is most important for the nurse to take?
A. Auscultate the lungs for respiratory pneumonia.
B. Draw blood to analyze for streptococcal infection
C. Change to latex-free gloves when handling infant
D. Apply zinc oxide to perineum with each diaper change - Answer--C. Change to
latex-free gloves when handling infant
The nurse is caring for a female client, a primigravida, with preeclampsia.
Findings include +2 proteinuria, BP 172/112 mmHg, facial and hand swelling,
complaints of blurry vision and a severe frontal headache. Which medication
should the nurse anticipate for this client?
A. Clonidine hydrochloride
B. Carbamazepine
C. Furosemide
D. Magnesium sulfate - Answer--D. Magnesium sulfate
, A client at 35-weeks gestation complains of a "pain whenever the baby moves."
On assessment, the nurse notes the client's temperature to be 101.2F, with
severe abdominal or uterine tenderness on palpation. The nurse knows that
these findings are indicative of what condition?
A. Round ligament strain
B. Chorioamnionitis
C. Abruptio placenta
D. Viral infection. - Answer--B. Chorioamnionitis
A male infant with a 2-day history of fever and diarrhea is brought to a clinic by
his mother who tells the nurse that the child refuses to drink anything. The nurse
determines that the child has a weak cry with no tears. Which prescription is
most important to implement?
A. Provide a bottle of electrolyte solution
B. Infuse normal saline intravenously
C. Administer an antipyretic rectally
D. Apply external cooling blanket - Answer--B. Infuse normal saline intravenously
A 6-month old child who had a cleft-lip repair has elbow restraints in place. What
nursing intervention should the nurse plan to implement?
A. remove restraints q4h for 30 minutes and place gloves on the child's hands
B. record observations of the restraints q2h and ensure that they are in place at
all times
C. obtain the HCP advice as to when the restraints should be removed
D. remove restraints one at a time to provide ROM exercises - Answer--D.
remove restraints one at a time to provide ROM exercises
A new mother calls the nurse stating that she wants to start feeding her
6-month-old child something besides breast milk, but is concerned that the infant
is too young to start eating solid foods. How should the nurse respond?
A. encourage the mother to schedule a developmental assessment of the infant
B. advise the mother to wait at least another month before starting any solid
foods
C. instruct the mother to offer a few spoons of 2-3 pureed fruit at each meal
