NCLEX RN Fetal Monitoring Practice
Exam 100 Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026
1. A nurse is reviewing a fetal heart rate tracing. Which finding is
considered a normal baseline fetal heart rate?
A. 90 beats/min
B. 105 beats/min
C. 140 beats/min
D. 175 beats/min
Answer: 140 beats/min
Rationale: A normal baseline fetal heart rate is 110–160 beats/min. Rates
below 110 indicate bradycardia, while rates above 160 indicate tachycardia.
2. The nurse identifies moderate fetal heart rate variability. What does this
finding most directly indicate?
A. Fetal hypoxia
B. Adequate fetal oxygenation and neurologic function
C. Umbilical cord compression
D. Fetal sleep only
Answer: Adequate fetal oxygenation and neurologic function
Rationale: Moderate variability, defined as fluctuations of 6–25 beats/min, is
reassuring and generally indicates adequate oxygenation and intact fetal
neurologic function.
3. A fetal heart rate tracing shows gradual decreases in fetal heart rate that
mirror uterine contractions. When does the fetal heart rate typically
return to baseline?
,A. Before the contraction begins
B. After the contraction ends
C. At the peak of the contraction
D. Immediately after rupture of membranes
Answer: At the same time the contraction ends
Rationale: Early decelerations mirror contractions, beginning and ending with
the contraction. They are usually caused by fetal head compression and are
generally benign.
4. Variable decelerations are most commonly associated with which
condition?
A. Fetal head compression
B. Uteroplacental insufficiency
C. Umbilical cord compression
D. Maternal hypoglycemia
Answer: Umbilical cord compression
Rationale: Variable decelerations are abrupt decreases in fetal heart rate
caused most commonly by umbilical cord compression.
5. A nurse observes recurrent late decelerations. Which intervention should
the nurse perform first?
A. Place the client supine
B. Reposition the client laterally
C. Encourage pushing
D. Increase the oxytocin infusion
Answer: Reposition the client laterally
Rationale: Lateral repositioning improves uteroplacental blood flow and is an
initial intervention for recurrent late decelerations. Oxytocin should generally
be reduced or stopped if excessive uterine activity is contributing.
6. Which fetal heart rate pattern is considered reassuring?
A. Absent variability with recurrent late decelerations
B. Moderate variability with accelerations
,C. Persistent fetal bradycardia
D. Sinusoidal pattern
Answer: Moderate variability with accelerations
Rationale: Moderate variability and accelerations are reassuring signs of
adequate fetal oxygenation and neurologic responsiveness.
7. The nurse is evaluating fetal heart rate accelerations. Which finding
meets the criteria for a normal acceleration in a fetus at 32 weeks'
gestation?
A. Increase of 5 beats/min for 10 seconds
B. Increase of 10 beats/min for 10 seconds
C. Increase of 15 beats/min for 15 seconds
D. Increase of 20 beats/min for 5 seconds
Answer: Increase of 15 beats/min for 15 seconds
Rationale: After 32 weeks, an acceleration is an increase of at least 15
beats/min lasting at least 15 seconds but less than 2 minutes.
8. Which intervention is appropriate when recurrent variable decelerations
occur?
A. Encourage the client to lie flat
B. Reposition the client
C. Increase oxytocin
D. Encourage prolonged pushing
Answer: Reposition the client
Rationale: Maternal repositioning can relieve umbilical cord compression and
improve fetal oxygenation.
9. A nurse notes fetal tachycardia. Which baseline fetal heart rate meets
the definition of tachycardia?
A. 100 beats/min
B. 110 beats/min
C. 160 beats/min
D. 170 beats/min
, Answer: 170 beats/min
Rationale: Fetal tachycardia is a baseline heart rate greater than 160
beats/min for at least 10 minutes.
10.Which maternal condition can contribute to fetal tachycardia?
A. Maternal fever
B. Maternal hypothermia
C. Maternal bradycardia
D. Maternal fasting alone
Answer: Maternal fever
Rationale: Maternal fever can increase the fetal heart rate. Other causes
include infection, medications, fetal hypoxia, and maternal dehydration.
11.A fetal heart rate baseline is 100 beats/min for 12 minutes. How should
the nurse interpret this finding?
A. Normal baseline
B. Fetal bradycardia
C. Fetal tachycardia
D. Normal acceleration
Answer: Fetal bradycardia
Rationale: A baseline fetal heart rate below 110 beats/min for at least 10
minutes is classified as fetal bradycardia.
12.Which characteristic distinguishes a late deceleration from an early
deceleration?
A. It begins after the contraction starts
B. It mirrors the contraction
C. It is caused by fetal head compression
D. It is always benign
Answer: It begins after the contraction starts and reaches its lowest point
after the contraction peak
Rationale: Late decelerations are delayed in relation to uterine contractions
and are associated with uteroplacental insufficiency.
Exam 100 Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026
1. A nurse is reviewing a fetal heart rate tracing. Which finding is
considered a normal baseline fetal heart rate?
A. 90 beats/min
B. 105 beats/min
C. 140 beats/min
D. 175 beats/min
Answer: 140 beats/min
Rationale: A normal baseline fetal heart rate is 110–160 beats/min. Rates
below 110 indicate bradycardia, while rates above 160 indicate tachycardia.
2. The nurse identifies moderate fetal heart rate variability. What does this
finding most directly indicate?
A. Fetal hypoxia
B. Adequate fetal oxygenation and neurologic function
C. Umbilical cord compression
D. Fetal sleep only
Answer: Adequate fetal oxygenation and neurologic function
Rationale: Moderate variability, defined as fluctuations of 6–25 beats/min, is
reassuring and generally indicates adequate oxygenation and intact fetal
neurologic function.
3. A fetal heart rate tracing shows gradual decreases in fetal heart rate that
mirror uterine contractions. When does the fetal heart rate typically
return to baseline?
,A. Before the contraction begins
B. After the contraction ends
C. At the peak of the contraction
D. Immediately after rupture of membranes
Answer: At the same time the contraction ends
Rationale: Early decelerations mirror contractions, beginning and ending with
the contraction. They are usually caused by fetal head compression and are
generally benign.
4. Variable decelerations are most commonly associated with which
condition?
A. Fetal head compression
B. Uteroplacental insufficiency
C. Umbilical cord compression
D. Maternal hypoglycemia
Answer: Umbilical cord compression
Rationale: Variable decelerations are abrupt decreases in fetal heart rate
caused most commonly by umbilical cord compression.
5. A nurse observes recurrent late decelerations. Which intervention should
the nurse perform first?
A. Place the client supine
B. Reposition the client laterally
C. Encourage pushing
D. Increase the oxytocin infusion
Answer: Reposition the client laterally
Rationale: Lateral repositioning improves uteroplacental blood flow and is an
initial intervention for recurrent late decelerations. Oxytocin should generally
be reduced or stopped if excessive uterine activity is contributing.
6. Which fetal heart rate pattern is considered reassuring?
A. Absent variability with recurrent late decelerations
B. Moderate variability with accelerations
,C. Persistent fetal bradycardia
D. Sinusoidal pattern
Answer: Moderate variability with accelerations
Rationale: Moderate variability and accelerations are reassuring signs of
adequate fetal oxygenation and neurologic responsiveness.
7. The nurse is evaluating fetal heart rate accelerations. Which finding
meets the criteria for a normal acceleration in a fetus at 32 weeks'
gestation?
A. Increase of 5 beats/min for 10 seconds
B. Increase of 10 beats/min for 10 seconds
C. Increase of 15 beats/min for 15 seconds
D. Increase of 20 beats/min for 5 seconds
Answer: Increase of 15 beats/min for 15 seconds
Rationale: After 32 weeks, an acceleration is an increase of at least 15
beats/min lasting at least 15 seconds but less than 2 minutes.
8. Which intervention is appropriate when recurrent variable decelerations
occur?
A. Encourage the client to lie flat
B. Reposition the client
C. Increase oxytocin
D. Encourage prolonged pushing
Answer: Reposition the client
Rationale: Maternal repositioning can relieve umbilical cord compression and
improve fetal oxygenation.
9. A nurse notes fetal tachycardia. Which baseline fetal heart rate meets
the definition of tachycardia?
A. 100 beats/min
B. 110 beats/min
C. 160 beats/min
D. 170 beats/min
, Answer: 170 beats/min
Rationale: Fetal tachycardia is a baseline heart rate greater than 160
beats/min for at least 10 minutes.
10.Which maternal condition can contribute to fetal tachycardia?
A. Maternal fever
B. Maternal hypothermia
C. Maternal bradycardia
D. Maternal fasting alone
Answer: Maternal fever
Rationale: Maternal fever can increase the fetal heart rate. Other causes
include infection, medications, fetal hypoxia, and maternal dehydration.
11.A fetal heart rate baseline is 100 beats/min for 12 minutes. How should
the nurse interpret this finding?
A. Normal baseline
B. Fetal bradycardia
C. Fetal tachycardia
D. Normal acceleration
Answer: Fetal bradycardia
Rationale: A baseline fetal heart rate below 110 beats/min for at least 10
minutes is classified as fetal bradycardia.
12.Which characteristic distinguishes a late deceleration from an early
deceleration?
A. It begins after the contraction starts
B. It mirrors the contraction
C. It is caused by fetal head compression
D. It is always benign
Answer: It begins after the contraction starts and reaches its lowest point
after the contraction peak
Rationale: Late decelerations are delayed in relation to uterine contractions
and are associated with uteroplacental insufficiency.
