NCC Electronic Fetal Monitoring Certification
Exam (2025/2026) – Verified Questions &
Answers | Fully Updated Guide
Multiple-Choice Questions (1–70)
Question 1: Which factor can negatively affect uterine blood flow? (image: diagram of
uteroplacental circulation)
A) Hypotension
B) Epidural anesthesia
C) Hemorrhage
D) Diabetes
E) All of the above
Answer: E) All of the above
Rationale: Hypotension, epidurals, hemorrhage, and diabetes reduce uterine blood flow by
causing vasoconstriction, hypoperfusion, or placental insufficiency, impacting fetal oxygenation.
Question 2: How does the fetus compensate for decreased maternal circulating volume? (image:
FHR tracing with tachycardia)
A) Increases stroke volume
B) Increases heart rate
C) Increases fetal movement
D) Decreases oxygen demand
Answer: B) Increases heart rate
Rationale: The fetus increases heart rate to maintain cardiac output and oxygen delivery in
response to reduced maternal volume.
Question 3: Stimulating the vagus nerve typically produces: (image: FHR tracing with
deceleration)
A) Increased heart rate
B) Decreased heart rate
C) Increased stroke volume
D) No change
Answer: B) Decreased heart rate
Rationale: Vagus nerve stimulation activates the parasympathetic system, slowing FHR, often
seen in decelerations.
Question 4: What initially causes a chemoreceptor response in the fetus?
A) Epidurals
B) Supine maternal position
C) Increased CO2 levels
D) Decreased O2 levels
, E) C & D
Answer: E) C & D
Rationale: Chemoreceptors respond to increased CO2 and decreased O2, triggering fetal
compensatory mechanisms like bradycardia.
Question 5: The vagus nerve matures at 26–28 weeks. What is its effect on FHR baseline?
A) Increases baseline
B) Decreases baseline
Answer: B) Decreases baseline
Rationale: Vagus nerve maturation enhances parasympathetic control, lowering the FHR
baseline as gestation progresses.
Question 6: True or False: Oxygen exchange in the placenta occurs in the intervillous space.
Answer: True
Rationale: The intervillous space is where maternal blood bathes fetal villi, facilitating oxygen
exchange.
Question 7: True or False: The parasympathetic nervous system is a cardioaccelerator.
Answer: False
Rationale: The parasympathetic system slows the heart rate via the vagus nerve, not accelerates
it.
Question 8: True or False: Baroreceptors respond to changes in blood pressure.
Answer: True
Rationale: Baroreceptors detect blood pressure changes, influencing FHR responses.
Question 9: True or False: The two primary methods for obtaining FHR are ultrasound
transducer and fetal spiral electrode.
Answer: True
Rationale: Ultrasound transducers (external) and fetal spiral electrodes (internal) are standard
EFM methods.
Question 10: True or False: Variability can be assessed with a fetoscope.
Answer: False
Rationale: Fetoscopes detect FHR but cannot assess variability, which requires continuous
EFM.
Question 11: A nurse observes an FHR tracing with absent variability and recurrent late
decelerations (image: FHR tracing). What is the category?
A) Category I
B) Category II
C) Category III
Answer: C) Category III
Rationale: Absent variability with recurrent late decelerations indicates a Category III tracing,
suggesting fetal distress requiring immediate intervention.
Exam (2025/2026) – Verified Questions &
Answers | Fully Updated Guide
Multiple-Choice Questions (1–70)
Question 1: Which factor can negatively affect uterine blood flow? (image: diagram of
uteroplacental circulation)
A) Hypotension
B) Epidural anesthesia
C) Hemorrhage
D) Diabetes
E) All of the above
Answer: E) All of the above
Rationale: Hypotension, epidurals, hemorrhage, and diabetes reduce uterine blood flow by
causing vasoconstriction, hypoperfusion, or placental insufficiency, impacting fetal oxygenation.
Question 2: How does the fetus compensate for decreased maternal circulating volume? (image:
FHR tracing with tachycardia)
A) Increases stroke volume
B) Increases heart rate
C) Increases fetal movement
D) Decreases oxygen demand
Answer: B) Increases heart rate
Rationale: The fetus increases heart rate to maintain cardiac output and oxygen delivery in
response to reduced maternal volume.
Question 3: Stimulating the vagus nerve typically produces: (image: FHR tracing with
deceleration)
A) Increased heart rate
B) Decreased heart rate
C) Increased stroke volume
D) No change
Answer: B) Decreased heart rate
Rationale: Vagus nerve stimulation activates the parasympathetic system, slowing FHR, often
seen in decelerations.
Question 4: What initially causes a chemoreceptor response in the fetus?
A) Epidurals
B) Supine maternal position
C) Increased CO2 levels
D) Decreased O2 levels
, E) C & D
Answer: E) C & D
Rationale: Chemoreceptors respond to increased CO2 and decreased O2, triggering fetal
compensatory mechanisms like bradycardia.
Question 5: The vagus nerve matures at 26–28 weeks. What is its effect on FHR baseline?
A) Increases baseline
B) Decreases baseline
Answer: B) Decreases baseline
Rationale: Vagus nerve maturation enhances parasympathetic control, lowering the FHR
baseline as gestation progresses.
Question 6: True or False: Oxygen exchange in the placenta occurs in the intervillous space.
Answer: True
Rationale: The intervillous space is where maternal blood bathes fetal villi, facilitating oxygen
exchange.
Question 7: True or False: The parasympathetic nervous system is a cardioaccelerator.
Answer: False
Rationale: The parasympathetic system slows the heart rate via the vagus nerve, not accelerates
it.
Question 8: True or False: Baroreceptors respond to changes in blood pressure.
Answer: True
Rationale: Baroreceptors detect blood pressure changes, influencing FHR responses.
Question 9: True or False: The two primary methods for obtaining FHR are ultrasound
transducer and fetal spiral electrode.
Answer: True
Rationale: Ultrasound transducers (external) and fetal spiral electrodes (internal) are standard
EFM methods.
Question 10: True or False: Variability can be assessed with a fetoscope.
Answer: False
Rationale: Fetoscopes detect FHR but cannot assess variability, which requires continuous
EFM.
Question 11: A nurse observes an FHR tracing with absent variability and recurrent late
decelerations (image: FHR tracing). What is the category?
A) Category I
B) Category II
C) Category III
Answer: C) Category III
Rationale: Absent variability with recurrent late decelerations indicates a Category III tracing,
suggesting fetal distress requiring immediate intervention.
