NCC EFM EXAM BREAKDOWN & STUDY GUIDE
LATEST QUESTIONS WITH 100% VERIFIED
CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+ 2026
,Content on exam ANSWER >> -Pattern recognition & intervention: 70%
-Physiology: 11%
-Fetal assessment methods: 9%
-EFM equipment: 5%
-Professional issues: 5%
Pattern recognition & intervention ANSWER >> -FHR baseline ✓
-FHR variability ✓
-FHR accelerations ✓
-FHR decelerations ✓
-Normal uterine activity ✓
-Abnormal uterine activity ✓
-Fetal dysrhythmias ✓
-Maternal complications ✓
-Uteroplacental complications ✓
,-Fetal complications ✓
FHR Descriptors ANSWER >> 1) Baseline
2) Variability
3) Presence of accels
4) Presence of decels
5) Changes in trends overtime
FHR Baseline ANSWER >> Average FHR rounded to nearest 5 during a 10 min window
-110 to 160
-excludes accels, decels, & marked variability
-must have 2 mins to identify as a baseline (doesn't need to be continuous)
Fetal Bradycardia ANSWER >> <110 for ≥10 min
-Causes: hypotension (ex: after epi), cord prolapse, head compression, congenital
defect, rapid descent, abruption or rupture, tachysystole, post dates, hypoglycemia,
lupus (heart block)
-With ↓ O2, blood will be shunted to brain, heart, & adrenals, eventually ↓ FHR to ↓ O2
demands of heart muscle
, -Verify not mom's HR, vaginal exam (r/o prolapse), resuscitate, evaluate arrhythmia,
expedite delivery
Fetal Tachycardia ANSWER >> >160 for ≥10 min
-Causes: fetal anemia, maternal fever or infection, fetal immaturity (preterm), SVT,
maternal anxiety (catecholamines), dehydration, hyperthyroid, hypoxia
-Med causes: terbutaline, catecholamines (epinephrine, norepi)
-Assess mom's temp & infection risk (GBS, PROM)
FHR Variability ANSWER >> Irregular in amplitude & frequency, quantified by peak to
trough
-Caused by sympathetic vs parasympathetic, r/t neuro maturity
-Less in preterm due to undeveloped CNS
-Absent: undetectable, flat
-Minimal: ≤5 bpm but detectable
-Moderate: 6-25 bpm
-Marked: >25 bpm (indeterminate baseline), significance unknown
Minimal variability ANSWER >> ≤5 bpm but detectable
Sleep, sedated, or sick
LATEST QUESTIONS WITH 100% VERIFIED
CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+ 2026
,Content on exam ANSWER >> -Pattern recognition & intervention: 70%
-Physiology: 11%
-Fetal assessment methods: 9%
-EFM equipment: 5%
-Professional issues: 5%
Pattern recognition & intervention ANSWER >> -FHR baseline ✓
-FHR variability ✓
-FHR accelerations ✓
-FHR decelerations ✓
-Normal uterine activity ✓
-Abnormal uterine activity ✓
-Fetal dysrhythmias ✓
-Maternal complications ✓
-Uteroplacental complications ✓
,-Fetal complications ✓
FHR Descriptors ANSWER >> 1) Baseline
2) Variability
3) Presence of accels
4) Presence of decels
5) Changes in trends overtime
FHR Baseline ANSWER >> Average FHR rounded to nearest 5 during a 10 min window
-110 to 160
-excludes accels, decels, & marked variability
-must have 2 mins to identify as a baseline (doesn't need to be continuous)
Fetal Bradycardia ANSWER >> <110 for ≥10 min
-Causes: hypotension (ex: after epi), cord prolapse, head compression, congenital
defect, rapid descent, abruption or rupture, tachysystole, post dates, hypoglycemia,
lupus (heart block)
-With ↓ O2, blood will be shunted to brain, heart, & adrenals, eventually ↓ FHR to ↓ O2
demands of heart muscle
, -Verify not mom's HR, vaginal exam (r/o prolapse), resuscitate, evaluate arrhythmia,
expedite delivery
Fetal Tachycardia ANSWER >> >160 for ≥10 min
-Causes: fetal anemia, maternal fever or infection, fetal immaturity (preterm), SVT,
maternal anxiety (catecholamines), dehydration, hyperthyroid, hypoxia
-Med causes: terbutaline, catecholamines (epinephrine, norepi)
-Assess mom's temp & infection risk (GBS, PROM)
FHR Variability ANSWER >> Irregular in amplitude & frequency, quantified by peak to
trough
-Caused by sympathetic vs parasympathetic, r/t neuro maturity
-Less in preterm due to undeveloped CNS
-Absent: undetectable, flat
-Minimal: ≤5 bpm but detectable
-Moderate: 6-25 bpm
-Marked: >25 bpm (indeterminate baseline), significance unknown
Minimal variability ANSWER >> ≤5 bpm but detectable
Sleep, sedated, or sick
