NCC EFM practice UPDATED ACTUAL
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
Which of the following does not affect the degree of fetal activity?
a. Vibroacoustic stimulation
b. Smoking
c. Fetal position
d. Gestational age - CORRECT ANSWER - a. Vibroacoustic stimulation
T/F: Umbilical cord influences that can alter blood flow include true knots, hematomas, and
number of umbilical vessels. - CORRECT ANSWER - True
T/F: Low amplitude contractions are not an early sign of preterm labor. - CORRECT
ANSWER - False
T/F: Corticosteroid administration may cause an increase in FHR accelerations. - CORRECT
ANSWER - False
T/F: Corticosteroid administration may cause an increase in FHR. - CORRECT
ANSWER - True
T/F: Contractions cause an increase in uterine venous pressure and a decrease in uterine artery
perfusion. - CORRECT ANSWER - True
As a result of the intrinsic fetal response to oxygen deprivation, increased catecholamine levels
cause the peripheral blood flow to decrease while the blood flow to vital organs increases. These
flow changes along with increased catecholamine secretions have what effect on fetal blood
pressure and fetal heart rate?
,A. Increase BP and increase HR
B. Increase BP and decrease HR
C. Decrease BP and increase HR
D. Decrease BP and decrease HR - CORRECT ANSWER - B. Increase BP and decrease
HR
During a term antepartum NST (non-stress test), you notice several variable decelerations that
decrease at least 15 bpm and last at least 15 sec long. Which of the following is the least likely
explanation?
A. True knot
B. Gestational diabetes
C. Umbilical cord entanglement
D. Oligohydramnios - CORRECT ANSWER - B. Gestational diabetes
All of the following are likely causes of prolonged decelerations except:
A. Uterine tachysystole
B. Prolapsed cord
C. Maternal hypotension
D. Maternal fever - CORRECT ANSWER - D. Maternal fever
All of the following could likely cause minimal variability in FHR except
A. Magnesium sulfate administration
B. Fetal sleep cycle
C. Narcotic administration
D. Ephedrine administration - CORRECT ANSWER - D. Ephedrine administration
When an IUPC has been placed, Montevideo units must be ___ or greater for adequate cervical
change to occur.
A. 100
,B. 200
C. 300
D. 400 - CORRECT ANSWER - B. 200
What would be a suspected pH in a fetus whose FHTs included recurrent late decelerations
during labor?
A. 7.10
B. 7.26
C. 7.32
D. 7.41 - CORRECT ANSWER - A. 7.10
The nurse notes a pattern of decelerations on the fetal monitor that begins shortly after the
contraction and returns to baseline just before the contraction is over. The correct nursing
response is to:
a. Give the woman oxygen by facemask at 8-10 L/min
b. Position the woman on her opposite side
c. Increase the rate of the woman's intravenous fluid
d. Continue to observe and record the normal pattern - CORRECT ANSWER - d.
Continue to observe and record the normal pattern
Determining the FHR baseline requires the nurse to approximate the mean FHR rounded to
increments of 5 bpm during a ___-minute window (excluding accelerations and decelerations).
A. 2
B. 5
C. 10
D. 20 - CORRECT ANSWER - C. 10
Which of the following interventions would best stimulate an acceleration in the FHR?
A. Provide juice to patient
B. Perform vaginal exam
, C. Turn patient on left side
D. Vibroacoustic stimulation - CORRECT ANSWER - B. Perform vaginal exam
Scalp stimulation
The FHR is controlled by the
A. Sympathetic nervous system
B. Sinoatrial node
C. Atrioventricular node
D. Parasympathetic nervous system - CORRECT ANSWER - B. Sinoatrial node
T/F: Fetal tachycardia is a normal compensatory response to transient fetal hypoxemia. -
CORRECT ANSWER - True
At how many weeks gestation should FHR variability be normal in manner?
A. 24 weeks
B. 28 weeks
C. 32 weeks
D. 36 weeks - CORRECT ANSWER - B. 28 weeks
Reduced respiratory gas exchange from persistent decelerations may cause a rise in fetal PCO2,
which leads first to _______ _______, then _______ _______.
A. Respiratory alkalosis; metabolic acidosis
B. Respiratory acidosis; metabolic acidosis
C. Respiratory alkalosis; metabolic alkalosis
D. Respiratory acidosis; metabolic acidosis - CORRECT ANSWER - B. Respiratory
acidosis; metabolic acidosis
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
Which of the following does not affect the degree of fetal activity?
a. Vibroacoustic stimulation
b. Smoking
c. Fetal position
d. Gestational age - CORRECT ANSWER - a. Vibroacoustic stimulation
T/F: Umbilical cord influences that can alter blood flow include true knots, hematomas, and
number of umbilical vessels. - CORRECT ANSWER - True
T/F: Low amplitude contractions are not an early sign of preterm labor. - CORRECT
ANSWER - False
T/F: Corticosteroid administration may cause an increase in FHR accelerations. - CORRECT
ANSWER - False
T/F: Corticosteroid administration may cause an increase in FHR. - CORRECT
ANSWER - True
T/F: Contractions cause an increase in uterine venous pressure and a decrease in uterine artery
perfusion. - CORRECT ANSWER - True
As a result of the intrinsic fetal response to oxygen deprivation, increased catecholamine levels
cause the peripheral blood flow to decrease while the blood flow to vital organs increases. These
flow changes along with increased catecholamine secretions have what effect on fetal blood
pressure and fetal heart rate?
,A. Increase BP and increase HR
B. Increase BP and decrease HR
C. Decrease BP and increase HR
D. Decrease BP and decrease HR - CORRECT ANSWER - B. Increase BP and decrease
HR
During a term antepartum NST (non-stress test), you notice several variable decelerations that
decrease at least 15 bpm and last at least 15 sec long. Which of the following is the least likely
explanation?
A. True knot
B. Gestational diabetes
C. Umbilical cord entanglement
D. Oligohydramnios - CORRECT ANSWER - B. Gestational diabetes
All of the following are likely causes of prolonged decelerations except:
A. Uterine tachysystole
B. Prolapsed cord
C. Maternal hypotension
D. Maternal fever - CORRECT ANSWER - D. Maternal fever
All of the following could likely cause minimal variability in FHR except
A. Magnesium sulfate administration
B. Fetal sleep cycle
C. Narcotic administration
D. Ephedrine administration - CORRECT ANSWER - D. Ephedrine administration
When an IUPC has been placed, Montevideo units must be ___ or greater for adequate cervical
change to occur.
A. 100
,B. 200
C. 300
D. 400 - CORRECT ANSWER - B. 200
What would be a suspected pH in a fetus whose FHTs included recurrent late decelerations
during labor?
A. 7.10
B. 7.26
C. 7.32
D. 7.41 - CORRECT ANSWER - A. 7.10
The nurse notes a pattern of decelerations on the fetal monitor that begins shortly after the
contraction and returns to baseline just before the contraction is over. The correct nursing
response is to:
a. Give the woman oxygen by facemask at 8-10 L/min
b. Position the woman on her opposite side
c. Increase the rate of the woman's intravenous fluid
d. Continue to observe and record the normal pattern - CORRECT ANSWER - d.
Continue to observe and record the normal pattern
Determining the FHR baseline requires the nurse to approximate the mean FHR rounded to
increments of 5 bpm during a ___-minute window (excluding accelerations and decelerations).
A. 2
B. 5
C. 10
D. 20 - CORRECT ANSWER - C. 10
Which of the following interventions would best stimulate an acceleration in the FHR?
A. Provide juice to patient
B. Perform vaginal exam
, C. Turn patient on left side
D. Vibroacoustic stimulation - CORRECT ANSWER - B. Perform vaginal exam
Scalp stimulation
The FHR is controlled by the
A. Sympathetic nervous system
B. Sinoatrial node
C. Atrioventricular node
D. Parasympathetic nervous system - CORRECT ANSWER - B. Sinoatrial node
T/F: Fetal tachycardia is a normal compensatory response to transient fetal hypoxemia. -
CORRECT ANSWER - True
At how many weeks gestation should FHR variability be normal in manner?
A. 24 weeks
B. 28 weeks
C. 32 weeks
D. 36 weeks - CORRECT ANSWER - B. 28 weeks
Reduced respiratory gas exchange from persistent decelerations may cause a rise in fetal PCO2,
which leads first to _______ _______, then _______ _______.
A. Respiratory alkalosis; metabolic acidosis
B. Respiratory acidosis; metabolic acidosis
C. Respiratory alkalosis; metabolic alkalosis
D. Respiratory acidosis; metabolic acidosis - CORRECT ANSWER - B. Respiratory
acidosis; metabolic acidosis
