HESI OB/MATERNITY PRACTICE QUIZ
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
A 4-week-old premature infant has been receiving epoetin alfa for the last three weeks.
Which assessment finding indicates to the nurse that the drug is effective?
a. slowly increasing urine output over the last week
b. respiratory rate changes from the 40s to the 60s
c. changes in apical heart rate from the 180 to the 140s
d. change in indirect bilirubin from 12 mg/dl to 8 mg/dl - Answer-c. changes in apical
rate from the 180s to the 140s
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 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
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
A 4-week-old premature infant has been receiving epoetin alfa for the last three weeks.
Which assessment finding indicates to the nurse that the drug is effective?
a. slowly increasing urine output over the last week
b. respiratory rate changes from the 40s to the 60s
c. changes in apical heart rate from the 180 to the 140s
d. change in indirect bilirubin from 12 mg/dl to 8 mg/dl - Answer-c. changes in apical
rate from the 180s to the 140s
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 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
