NCC ELECTRONIC FETAL MONITORING 2026
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔In _____ sleep, the fetus may be observed to have infrequent or absent body
movements, normal FHR baseline, minimal variability, and a nonreactive NST, but may
respond to external stimuli. Such typically occurs by 28 to 32 weeks' gestation.
A. REM (active sleep state)
B. Non-REM (quiet sleep state) - ✔✔B. Non-REM (quiet sleep state)
✔✔Place the following steps for performing Leopold's maneuver in the appropriate
order.
1. Assess location of fetal back
2. Determine the descent of the presenting part
3. Identify the presenting part
4. Assess part of the fetus in the upper uterus
A. 1, 3, 2, 4
B. 2, 4, 1, 2
C. 4, 1, 3, 2
D. 4, 3, 2, 1 - ✔✔C. 4, 1, 3, 2
✔✔When the internal mode of monitoring (FSE, IUPC) is used, the information obtained
on the uterine activity panel on the fetal monitor should be validated by the clinician by
A. Asking the patient to report when she is feeling a contraction
B. Ultrasound imaging
C. Palpation - ✔✔C. Palpation
✔✔T/F: Use of a fetoscope for intermittent auscultation of the fetal heart rate may be
used to detect baseline, rhythm, changes from baseline, and presence of an irregular
rhythm. - ✔✔True
,✔✔T/F: A Doppler device used for intermittent auscultation of the fetal heart rate may
be used to identify rhythm irregularities, such as supraventricular tachycardia. -
✔✔False
✔✔T/F: Use of a fetoscope for intermittent auscultation of the fetal heart rate may be
used to detect accelerations and decelerations from the baseline, and can clarify
double-counting of half-counting of baseline rate. - ✔✔True
✔✔T/F: Auscultation may be used to detect baseline variability and discriminate FHR
deceleration patterns. - ✔✔False
✔✔_______ represents increased sympathetic or decreased parasympathetic
autonomic tone.
A. Bradycardia
B. Tachycardia - ✔✔B. Tachycardia
✔✔T/F: In the context of moderate variability, late decelerations are considered
neurogenic in origin and are typically amenable to intrauterine resuscitation techniques
directed towards maximizing uterine blood flow. - ✔✔True
✔✔When coupling or tripling is apparent on the uterine activity tracing, this may be
indicative of a dysfunctional labor process and saturation (down regulation) of uterine
oxytocin receptor sites in response to excess exposure to oxytocin. Which of the
following interventions would be most appropriate?
A. Normal response; continue to increase oxytocin titration
B. Turn patient on side
C. Decrease or discontinue oxytocin infusion - ✔✔C. Decrease or discontinue oxytocin
infusion
✔✔The most common tachyarrhythmia in fetuses, supraventricular tachycardia,
typically occurs at a rate of _____ to _____ bpm with minimal or absent variability.
A. 160-200
B. 200-240
C. 240-260 - ✔✔C. 240-260
✔✔In a patient with oxytocin-induced tachysystole with normal fetal heart tones, which
of the following should be the nurse's initial intervention?
A. Assist the patient to lateral position
B. Discontinue Pitocin
C. Administer IV fluid bolus - ✔✔A. Assist the patient to lateral position
✔✔In a patient with oxytocin-induced tachysystole with indeterminate or abnormal fetal
heart tones, which of the following should be the nurse's initial intervention?
A. Assist the patient to lateral position
,B. Discontinue Pitocin
C. Administer IV fluid bolus - ✔✔B. Discontinue Pitocin
✔✔Fetal hypoxia and acidemia are demonstrated by pH < _____ and base excess <
_____. - ✔✔< 7.15; < -8
✔✔T/F: Amnioinfusion is an appropriate intervention to attempt to resolve patterns of
moderate to severe late decelerations. - ✔✔False
✔✔T/F: Amnioinfusion is an appropriate intervention to attempt to resolve patterns with
absent variability. - ✔✔False
✔✔T/F: Amnioinfusion may be an appropriate intervention for patients with
oligohydramnios in the prevention of the development of variable decelerations. -
✔✔False
Not for prevention
✔✔T/F: Meconium-stained amniotic fluid is an indication for amnioinfusion. - ✔✔False
✔✔T/F: Uterine resting tone may appear higher (25 to 40 mmHg) during amnioinfusion.
- ✔✔True
✔✔_______ denotes a decrease in oxygenation of the fetal tissues.
A. Hypercapnia
B. Hypoxia
C. Hypoxemia - ✔✔B. Hypoxia
✔✔_______ denotes a decrease in oxygen content of the fetal blood.
A. Hypercapnia
B. Hypoxia
C. Hypoxemia - ✔✔C. Hypoxemia
✔✔_______ denotes an increase in carbon dioxide in the fetal blood.
A. Hypercapnia
B. Hypoxia
C. Hypoxemia - ✔✔A. Hypercapnia
✔✔_______ denotes an increase in hydrogen ions in the fetal blood.
A. Acidosis
B. Acidemia
C. Hypercapnia - ✔✔B. Acidemia
, ✔✔_______ denotes an increase in hydrogen ions in the fetal tissues.
A. Acidosis
B. Acidemia
C. Hypercapnia - ✔✔A. Acidosis
✔✔_______ _______ occurs when there is low bicarbonate (base excess) in the
presence of normal pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2) values.
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Metabolic alkalosis - ✔✔A. Metabolic acidosis
✔✔_______ _______ occurs when there is high PCO2 with normal bicarbonate levels.
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Metabolic alkalosis - ✔✔B. Respiratory acidosis
✔✔_______ _______ occurs when the HCO3 concentration is lower than normal.
A. Base deficit
B. Base excess
C. Metabolic acidosis - ✔✔A. Base deficit
✔✔_______ _______ occurs when the HCO3 concentration is higher than normal.
A. Base deficit
B. Base excess
C. Metabolic acidosis - ✔✔B. Base excess
✔✔_______ is defined as the energy-consuming process of metabolism. -
✔✔Anabolism
✔✔_______ is defined as the energy-releasing process of metabolism. - ✔✔Catabolism
✔✔T/F: It is an appropriate intervention to perform fetal scalp stimulation during a
deceleration. - ✔✔False
✔✔Normal oxygen saturation for the fetus in labor is ___% to ___%. - ✔✔30% to 65%
✔✔The normal mean value range for arterial pH is
A. 7.0-7.20
B. 7.20-7.29
C. 7.29-7.39 - ✔✔B. 7.20-7.29
✔✔The normal mean value range for arterial PCO2 is
A. 22-24
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔In _____ sleep, the fetus may be observed to have infrequent or absent body
movements, normal FHR baseline, minimal variability, and a nonreactive NST, but may
respond to external stimuli. Such typically occurs by 28 to 32 weeks' gestation.
A. REM (active sleep state)
B. Non-REM (quiet sleep state) - ✔✔B. Non-REM (quiet sleep state)
✔✔Place the following steps for performing Leopold's maneuver in the appropriate
order.
1. Assess location of fetal back
2. Determine the descent of the presenting part
3. Identify the presenting part
4. Assess part of the fetus in the upper uterus
A. 1, 3, 2, 4
B. 2, 4, 1, 2
C. 4, 1, 3, 2
D. 4, 3, 2, 1 - ✔✔C. 4, 1, 3, 2
✔✔When the internal mode of monitoring (FSE, IUPC) is used, the information obtained
on the uterine activity panel on the fetal monitor should be validated by the clinician by
A. Asking the patient to report when she is feeling a contraction
B. Ultrasound imaging
C. Palpation - ✔✔C. Palpation
✔✔T/F: Use of a fetoscope for intermittent auscultation of the fetal heart rate may be
used to detect baseline, rhythm, changes from baseline, and presence of an irregular
rhythm. - ✔✔True
,✔✔T/F: A Doppler device used for intermittent auscultation of the fetal heart rate may
be used to identify rhythm irregularities, such as supraventricular tachycardia. -
✔✔False
✔✔T/F: Use of a fetoscope for intermittent auscultation of the fetal heart rate may be
used to detect accelerations and decelerations from the baseline, and can clarify
double-counting of half-counting of baseline rate. - ✔✔True
✔✔T/F: Auscultation may be used to detect baseline variability and discriminate FHR
deceleration patterns. - ✔✔False
✔✔_______ represents increased sympathetic or decreased parasympathetic
autonomic tone.
A. Bradycardia
B. Tachycardia - ✔✔B. Tachycardia
✔✔T/F: In the context of moderate variability, late decelerations are considered
neurogenic in origin and are typically amenable to intrauterine resuscitation techniques
directed towards maximizing uterine blood flow. - ✔✔True
✔✔When coupling or tripling is apparent on the uterine activity tracing, this may be
indicative of a dysfunctional labor process and saturation (down regulation) of uterine
oxytocin receptor sites in response to excess exposure to oxytocin. Which of the
following interventions would be most appropriate?
A. Normal response; continue to increase oxytocin titration
B. Turn patient on side
C. Decrease or discontinue oxytocin infusion - ✔✔C. Decrease or discontinue oxytocin
infusion
✔✔The most common tachyarrhythmia in fetuses, supraventricular tachycardia,
typically occurs at a rate of _____ to _____ bpm with minimal or absent variability.
A. 160-200
B. 200-240
C. 240-260 - ✔✔C. 240-260
✔✔In a patient with oxytocin-induced tachysystole with normal fetal heart tones, which
of the following should be the nurse's initial intervention?
A. Assist the patient to lateral position
B. Discontinue Pitocin
C. Administer IV fluid bolus - ✔✔A. Assist the patient to lateral position
✔✔In a patient with oxytocin-induced tachysystole with indeterminate or abnormal fetal
heart tones, which of the following should be the nurse's initial intervention?
A. Assist the patient to lateral position
,B. Discontinue Pitocin
C. Administer IV fluid bolus - ✔✔B. Discontinue Pitocin
✔✔Fetal hypoxia and acidemia are demonstrated by pH < _____ and base excess <
_____. - ✔✔< 7.15; < -8
✔✔T/F: Amnioinfusion is an appropriate intervention to attempt to resolve patterns of
moderate to severe late decelerations. - ✔✔False
✔✔T/F: Amnioinfusion is an appropriate intervention to attempt to resolve patterns with
absent variability. - ✔✔False
✔✔T/F: Amnioinfusion may be an appropriate intervention for patients with
oligohydramnios in the prevention of the development of variable decelerations. -
✔✔False
Not for prevention
✔✔T/F: Meconium-stained amniotic fluid is an indication for amnioinfusion. - ✔✔False
✔✔T/F: Uterine resting tone may appear higher (25 to 40 mmHg) during amnioinfusion.
- ✔✔True
✔✔_______ denotes a decrease in oxygenation of the fetal tissues.
A. Hypercapnia
B. Hypoxia
C. Hypoxemia - ✔✔B. Hypoxia
✔✔_______ denotes a decrease in oxygen content of the fetal blood.
A. Hypercapnia
B. Hypoxia
C. Hypoxemia - ✔✔C. Hypoxemia
✔✔_______ denotes an increase in carbon dioxide in the fetal blood.
A. Hypercapnia
B. Hypoxia
C. Hypoxemia - ✔✔A. Hypercapnia
✔✔_______ denotes an increase in hydrogen ions in the fetal blood.
A. Acidosis
B. Acidemia
C. Hypercapnia - ✔✔B. Acidemia
, ✔✔_______ denotes an increase in hydrogen ions in the fetal tissues.
A. Acidosis
B. Acidemia
C. Hypercapnia - ✔✔A. Acidosis
✔✔_______ _______ occurs when there is low bicarbonate (base excess) in the
presence of normal pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2) values.
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Metabolic alkalosis - ✔✔A. Metabolic acidosis
✔✔_______ _______ occurs when there is high PCO2 with normal bicarbonate levels.
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Metabolic alkalosis - ✔✔B. Respiratory acidosis
✔✔_______ _______ occurs when the HCO3 concentration is lower than normal.
A. Base deficit
B. Base excess
C. Metabolic acidosis - ✔✔A. Base deficit
✔✔_______ _______ occurs when the HCO3 concentration is higher than normal.
A. Base deficit
B. Base excess
C. Metabolic acidosis - ✔✔B. Base excess
✔✔_______ is defined as the energy-consuming process of metabolism. -
✔✔Anabolism
✔✔_______ is defined as the energy-releasing process of metabolism. - ✔✔Catabolism
✔✔T/F: It is an appropriate intervention to perform fetal scalp stimulation during a
deceleration. - ✔✔False
✔✔Normal oxygen saturation for the fetus in labor is ___% to ___%. - ✔✔30% to 65%
✔✔The normal mean value range for arterial pH is
A. 7.0-7.20
B. 7.20-7.29
C. 7.29-7.39 - ✔✔B. 7.20-7.29
✔✔The normal mean value range for arterial PCO2 is
A. 22-24
