NCC Electronic Fetal Monitoring Certification Exam
One characteristic of a high reliability perinatal unit is
A. Alarms can only be called by unit leaders
B. Reliance on memorization of protocols
C. The organization creates a safety-oriented culture - ANSWER-C. The organization creates a
safety-oriented culture
One example of evidence-based practice related to fetal monitoring is
A. Diagnosis of uterine rupture with an IUPC
B. Intermittent auscultation for the low-risk patient
C. Using electronic fetal monitoring to prevent cerebral palsy - ANSWER-B. Intermittent
auscultation for the low-risk patient
Supporting the parents decision to choose no extraordinary measures on their baby who is
about to deliver at 24 3/7 weeks gestation despite the nurses personal opinion is an example of
A. Autonomy
B. Beneficence
C. Non-maleficence - ANSWER-A. Autonomy
_______ primarily function(s) to regulate respiratory activity and control circulation by
responding to changes in arterial PO2, PCO2, and acid-base balance.
A. Baroreceptors
B. Chemoreceptors
C. Cardioregulatory center - ANSWER-B. Chemoreceptors
,_______ are protective stretch receptors located in the aortic arch and the carotid sinuses at
the bifurcation of the external and internal carotid arteries.
A. Baroreceptors
B. Chemoreceptors
C. Arteries - ANSWER-A. Baroreceptors
_______ respond to increases in fetal arterial blood pressure by detecting the amount of stretch
and sending impulses via the vagus nerve to the midbrain, decreasing FHR, CO, and BP.
A. Baroreceptors
B. Chemoreceptors
C. Veins - ANSWER-A. Baroreceptors
As a contraction beings, partial umbilical cord compression causes occlusion of the low-pressure
vein and decreased return of blood to the fetal heart, resulting in decreased CO, hypotension,
and a compensatory FHR _____.
A. Acceleration
B. Early deceleration
C. Late deceleration
D. Variable deceleration - ANSWER-A. Acceleration
With complete umbilical cord occlusion, the two umbilical arteries also become occluded,
resulting in sudden fetal hypertension, stimulation of the baroreceptors, and a sudden _______
in FHR.
A. Increase
B. Decrease - ANSWER-B. Decrease
Central _______ are located in the medulla oblongata; peripheral _______ are found in the
carotid sinuses and aortic arch.
,A. Baroreceptors
B. Chemoreceptors - ANSWER-B. Chemoreceptors
When a fetus is stressed, catecholamine release (epinephrine, norepinephrine) occurs from the
medulla oblongata, shunting blood _______ the brain, heart, and adrenal glands.
A. Toward
B. Away from - ANSWER-A. Toward
Because stroke volume in the fetus does not fluctuate significantly, fetal cardiac output is
_______ fetal heart rate.
A. Greater than
B. Less than
C. Approximately equal to - ANSWER-C. Approximately equal to
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) - ANSWER-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 - ANSWER-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 - ANSWER-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. -
ANSWER-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. - ANSWER-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. - ANSWER-True
T/F: Auscultation may be used to detect baseline variability and discriminate FHR deceleration
patterns. - ANSWER-False
_______ represents increased sympathetic or decreased parasympathetic autonomic tone.
A. Bradycardia
B. Tachycardia - ANSWER-B. Tachycardia
One characteristic of a high reliability perinatal unit is
A. Alarms can only be called by unit leaders
B. Reliance on memorization of protocols
C. The organization creates a safety-oriented culture - ANSWER-C. The organization creates a
safety-oriented culture
One example of evidence-based practice related to fetal monitoring is
A. Diagnosis of uterine rupture with an IUPC
B. Intermittent auscultation for the low-risk patient
C. Using electronic fetal monitoring to prevent cerebral palsy - ANSWER-B. Intermittent
auscultation for the low-risk patient
Supporting the parents decision to choose no extraordinary measures on their baby who is
about to deliver at 24 3/7 weeks gestation despite the nurses personal opinion is an example of
A. Autonomy
B. Beneficence
C. Non-maleficence - ANSWER-A. Autonomy
_______ primarily function(s) to regulate respiratory activity and control circulation by
responding to changes in arterial PO2, PCO2, and acid-base balance.
A. Baroreceptors
B. Chemoreceptors
C. Cardioregulatory center - ANSWER-B. Chemoreceptors
,_______ are protective stretch receptors located in the aortic arch and the carotid sinuses at
the bifurcation of the external and internal carotid arteries.
A. Baroreceptors
B. Chemoreceptors
C. Arteries - ANSWER-A. Baroreceptors
_______ respond to increases in fetal arterial blood pressure by detecting the amount of stretch
and sending impulses via the vagus nerve to the midbrain, decreasing FHR, CO, and BP.
A. Baroreceptors
B. Chemoreceptors
C. Veins - ANSWER-A. Baroreceptors
As a contraction beings, partial umbilical cord compression causes occlusion of the low-pressure
vein and decreased return of blood to the fetal heart, resulting in decreased CO, hypotension,
and a compensatory FHR _____.
A. Acceleration
B. Early deceleration
C. Late deceleration
D. Variable deceleration - ANSWER-A. Acceleration
With complete umbilical cord occlusion, the two umbilical arteries also become occluded,
resulting in sudden fetal hypertension, stimulation of the baroreceptors, and a sudden _______
in FHR.
A. Increase
B. Decrease - ANSWER-B. Decrease
Central _______ are located in the medulla oblongata; peripheral _______ are found in the
carotid sinuses and aortic arch.
,A. Baroreceptors
B. Chemoreceptors - ANSWER-B. Chemoreceptors
When a fetus is stressed, catecholamine release (epinephrine, norepinephrine) occurs from the
medulla oblongata, shunting blood _______ the brain, heart, and adrenal glands.
A. Toward
B. Away from - ANSWER-A. Toward
Because stroke volume in the fetus does not fluctuate significantly, fetal cardiac output is
_______ fetal heart rate.
A. Greater than
B. Less than
C. Approximately equal to - ANSWER-C. Approximately equal to
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) - ANSWER-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 - ANSWER-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 - ANSWER-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. -
ANSWER-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. - ANSWER-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. - ANSWER-True
T/F: Auscultation may be used to detect baseline variability and discriminate FHR deceleration
patterns. - ANSWER-False
_______ represents increased sympathetic or decreased parasympathetic autonomic tone.
A. Bradycardia
B. Tachycardia - ANSWER-B. Tachycardia
