AWHONN ADVANCED FETAL MONITORING PRACTICE EXAM
NEWEST 2026/2027 EXAM PREPARATION WITH COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES |
ALREADY GRADED A+||BRAND NEW VERSION!!
1.
A laboring patient at 39 weeks has a fetal heart rate (FHR) baseline of 145
beats/min with moderate variability and recurrent abrupt decreases of 20
beats/min lasting 30 seconds. Which interpretation is most appropriate?
A. Early decelerations
B. Late decelerations
C. Variable decelerations
D. Prolonged deceleration
Answer: C. Variable decelerations
Rationale: Variable decelerations are abrupt decreases in FHR that vary in onset,
duration, and intensity, most commonly associated with umbilical cord
compression.
2.
Which finding is required to classify fetal heart rate variability as moderate?
A. Amplitude range absent
B. Amplitude range 1–5 beats/min
C. Amplitude range 6–25 beats/min
D. Amplitude range greater than 25 beats/min
Answer: C. Amplitude range 6–25 beats/min
Rationale: Moderate variability is defined as an amplitude range of 6–25
beats/min and is an important indicator of intact fetal autonomic function.
,3.
A fetus has a baseline FHR of 170 beats/min for 12 minutes. How should the
baseline be classified?
A. Normal baseline
B. Bradycardia
C. Tachycardia
D. Sinusoidal pattern
Answer: C. Tachycardia
Rationale: Fetal tachycardia is a baseline FHR greater than 160 beats/min for at
least 10 minutes.
4.
Which condition is most commonly associated with fetal tachycardia?
A. Maternal hypothermia
B. Maternal fever
C. Fetal sleep
D. Maternal hypoglycemia
Answer: B. Maternal fever
Rationale: Maternal fever, infection, medications, fetal hypoxia, and other
conditions can contribute to fetal tachycardia. Intrapartum infection should be
considered when tachycardia accompanies maternal fever.
5.
A fetal heart rate baseline decreases from 140 to 90 beats/min and remains at 90
beats/min for 3 minutes before returning to baseline. What is this finding?
A. Early deceleration
B. Variable deceleration
C. Prolonged deceleration
D. Sinusoidal pattern
,Answer: C. Prolonged deceleration
Rationale: A prolonged deceleration is a decrease in FHR of at least 15 beats/min
lasting at least 2 minutes but less than 10 minutes.
6.
Which characteristic best distinguishes an early deceleration from a late
deceleration?
A. Early decelerations are associated with contractions and usually mirror them
B. Early decelerations occur independently of contractions
C. Early decelerations always indicate fetal hypoxemia
D. Early decelerations have an abrupt onset
Answer: A. Early decelerations are associated with contractions and usually
mirror them
Rationale: Early decelerations typically have gradual onset and recovery and are
temporally associated with contractions, commonly reflecting fetal head
compression.
7.
A patient receiving oxytocin develops recurrent late decelerations with minimal
variability. What is the priority nursing action?
A. Increase the oxytocin infusion
B. Continue monitoring without intervention
C. Reduce or discontinue oxytocin and initiate intrauterine resuscitative measures
D. Encourage pushing
Answer: C. Reduce or discontinue oxytocin and initiate intrauterine resuscitative
measures
Rationale: Recurrent late decelerations with minimal variability require prompt
evaluation and intervention. Excessive uterine activity caused by oxytocin should
be addressed immediately.
, 8.
Which FHR pattern is most strongly associated with uteroplacental insufficiency?
A. Early decelerations
B. Late decelerations
C. Variable decelerations
D. Accelerations
Answer: B. Late decelerations
Rationale: Recurrent late decelerations are associated with impaired
uteroplacental oxygen transfer, particularly when accompanied by reduced
variability.
9.
A fetal heart rate tracing demonstrates a smooth, sine-wave-like oscillation with
regular amplitude and frequency that persists for more than 20 minutes. Which
pattern is suspected?
A. Marked variability
B. Sinusoidal pattern
C. Recurrent variable decelerations
D. Periodic accelerations
Answer: B. Sinusoidal pattern
Rationale: A true sinusoidal pattern is a visually distinct, smooth, regular
oscillation of the FHR baseline that persists and may be associated with severe
fetal anemia or other serious conditions.
10.
Which finding is most reassuring regarding fetal acid-base status during labor?
NEWEST 2026/2027 EXAM PREPARATION WITH COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES |
ALREADY GRADED A+||BRAND NEW VERSION!!
1.
A laboring patient at 39 weeks has a fetal heart rate (FHR) baseline of 145
beats/min with moderate variability and recurrent abrupt decreases of 20
beats/min lasting 30 seconds. Which interpretation is most appropriate?
A. Early decelerations
B. Late decelerations
C. Variable decelerations
D. Prolonged deceleration
Answer: C. Variable decelerations
Rationale: Variable decelerations are abrupt decreases in FHR that vary in onset,
duration, and intensity, most commonly associated with umbilical cord
compression.
2.
Which finding is required to classify fetal heart rate variability as moderate?
A. Amplitude range absent
B. Amplitude range 1–5 beats/min
C. Amplitude range 6–25 beats/min
D. Amplitude range greater than 25 beats/min
Answer: C. Amplitude range 6–25 beats/min
Rationale: Moderate variability is defined as an amplitude range of 6–25
beats/min and is an important indicator of intact fetal autonomic function.
,3.
A fetus has a baseline FHR of 170 beats/min for 12 minutes. How should the
baseline be classified?
A. Normal baseline
B. Bradycardia
C. Tachycardia
D. Sinusoidal pattern
Answer: C. Tachycardia
Rationale: Fetal tachycardia is a baseline FHR greater than 160 beats/min for at
least 10 minutes.
4.
Which condition is most commonly associated with fetal tachycardia?
A. Maternal hypothermia
B. Maternal fever
C. Fetal sleep
D. Maternal hypoglycemia
Answer: B. Maternal fever
Rationale: Maternal fever, infection, medications, fetal hypoxia, and other
conditions can contribute to fetal tachycardia. Intrapartum infection should be
considered when tachycardia accompanies maternal fever.
5.
A fetal heart rate baseline decreases from 140 to 90 beats/min and remains at 90
beats/min for 3 minutes before returning to baseline. What is this finding?
A. Early deceleration
B. Variable deceleration
C. Prolonged deceleration
D. Sinusoidal pattern
,Answer: C. Prolonged deceleration
Rationale: A prolonged deceleration is a decrease in FHR of at least 15 beats/min
lasting at least 2 minutes but less than 10 minutes.
6.
Which characteristic best distinguishes an early deceleration from a late
deceleration?
A. Early decelerations are associated with contractions and usually mirror them
B. Early decelerations occur independently of contractions
C. Early decelerations always indicate fetal hypoxemia
D. Early decelerations have an abrupt onset
Answer: A. Early decelerations are associated with contractions and usually
mirror them
Rationale: Early decelerations typically have gradual onset and recovery and are
temporally associated with contractions, commonly reflecting fetal head
compression.
7.
A patient receiving oxytocin develops recurrent late decelerations with minimal
variability. What is the priority nursing action?
A. Increase the oxytocin infusion
B. Continue monitoring without intervention
C. Reduce or discontinue oxytocin and initiate intrauterine resuscitative measures
D. Encourage pushing
Answer: C. Reduce or discontinue oxytocin and initiate intrauterine resuscitative
measures
Rationale: Recurrent late decelerations with minimal variability require prompt
evaluation and intervention. Excessive uterine activity caused by oxytocin should
be addressed immediately.
, 8.
Which FHR pattern is most strongly associated with uteroplacental insufficiency?
A. Early decelerations
B. Late decelerations
C. Variable decelerations
D. Accelerations
Answer: B. Late decelerations
Rationale: Recurrent late decelerations are associated with impaired
uteroplacental oxygen transfer, particularly when accompanied by reduced
variability.
9.
A fetal heart rate tracing demonstrates a smooth, sine-wave-like oscillation with
regular amplitude and frequency that persists for more than 20 minutes. Which
pattern is suspected?
A. Marked variability
B. Sinusoidal pattern
C. Recurrent variable decelerations
D. Periodic accelerations
Answer: B. Sinusoidal pattern
Rationale: A true sinusoidal pattern is a visually distinct, smooth, regular
oscillation of the FHR baseline that persists and may be associated with severe
fetal anemia or other serious conditions.
10.
Which finding is most reassuring regarding fetal acid-base status during labor?
