Maternal/Pediatric HESI practice
Questions with Correct Answers
Client teaching is an important part of the maternity nurse's role. Which factor has the
greatest influence on successful teaching of the gravid client?
a. the client's readiness to learn
b. the client's educational background
c. the order in which the information is presented
d. the extent to which the pregnancy is planned - ANSWERSA
A 38-week primigravida who works as a secretary and sits at a computer 8 hours each
day tells the nurse that her feet have begun to swell. Which instruction would be most
effective in preventing pooling of blood in the lower extremities?
a. wearing support stockings
b. reduce salt in her diet
c. move about every hour
d. avoid constrictive clothing - ANSWERSC
During a prenatal visit, the nurse discusses with a client the effects of smoking on the
fetus. When compared with nonsmokers, mothers who smoke during pregnancy tend to
produce infants who have
a. lower apgar scores
b. lower birth weights
c. respiratory distress
d. a higher rate of congenital anomalies - ANSWERSB
A 26-year-old, gravida 2, para 1 client is admitted to the hospital at 28-weeks gestation
in preterm labor. She is given 3 doses of terbutaline sulfate (Brethine) 0.25 mg
subcutaneously to stop her labor contractions. The nurse plans to monitor for which
primary side effect of terbutaline sulfate?
a. drowsiness and bradycardia
b. depressed reflexes and increased respirations
c. tachycardia and a feeling of nervousness.
d. a flushed, warm feeling and a dry mouth - ANSWERSC
A mother who is breastfeeding her baby receives instructions from the nurse. Which
instructions is most effective to prevent nipple soreness?
a. wear a cotton bra
b. increase nursing time gradually
c. correctly place the infant on the breast
d. manually express a small amount of milk before nursing - ANSWERSC
,A full term infant is transferred to the nursery from labor and delivery. Which information
is most important for the nurse to receive when planning immediate care for the
newborn?
a. length of labor and method of delivery
b. infant's condition at birth and treatment received
c. feeding methods chosen by the parents
d. history of drugs given to the mother during labor - ANSWERSB
In developing a teaching plan for expectant parents, the nurse plans to include
information about when the parents can expect the infant's fontanels to close. The nurse
bases the explanation on knowledge that for the normal new born, the
a. anterior fontanel closes at 2 to 4 months and the posterior by the end of the first week
b. anterior fontanel closes at 5 to 7 months and the posterior by the end of the second
week
c. anterior fontanel closes at 8 to 11 months and the posterior by the end of the first
month
d. anterior fontanel closes at 12 to 18 months and the posterior by the end of the
second month. - ANSWERSD
When assessing a client who is at 12-weeks gestation, the nurse recommends that she
and her husband consider attending childbirth preparation classes. When is the best
time for the couple to attend these classes?
a. at 16-week gestation
b. at 20-weeks gestation
c. at 24-weeks gestation
d. at 30-weeks gestation - ANSWERSD
The nurse should encourage the laboring client to begin pushing when
a. there is only an anterior or posterior lip of cervix left.
b. the client describes the need to have a bowel movement
c. the cervix is completely dilated
d. the cervix is completely effaced - ANSWERSC
The nurse is counseling a couple who has sought information about conceiving. For
teaching purposes, the nurse should know that ovulation usually occurs
a. two weeks before menstruation
b. immediately after menstruation
c. immediately before mensturation
d. three weeks before menstruation - ANSWERSA
The nurse instructs a laboring client to use accelerated-blow breathing. The client
begins to complain of tingling fingers and dizziness. What action should the nurse take?
a. administer oxygen by face mask.
b. notify the healthcare provider of the client's symptoms.
c. have the client breathe into her cupped hands
d. check the client's blood pressure and fetal heart rate - ANSWERSC
, When preparing a class on newborn care for expectant parents, what content should
the nurse teach concerning the newborn infant born at term gestation?
a. milia are red marks made by forceps and will disappear within 7 to 10 days
b. meconium is the first stool and is usually yellow gold in color
c. vernix is a white, cheesy substance, predominantly located in the skin folds.
d. pseudostrabismus found in newborns is treated by minor surgery - ANSWERSC
Twenty-four hours after admission to the newborn nursery, a full-term male infant
develops localized edema on the right side of his head. The nurse knows that, in the
newborn, an accumulation of blood between the periosteum and skull which does not
cross the suture line is a newborn variation known as
a. a cephalhematoma, caused by forceps trauma and may last up to 8 weeks.
b. a subarachnoid hematoma, which requires immediate drainage to prevent further
complications
c. modeling, caused by pressure during labor and will disappear within 2 to 3 days
d. a subdural hematoma which can result in lifelong damage - ANSWERSA
An expectant father tells the nurse he fears that his wife "is losing her mind". He states
she is constantly rubbing her abdomen and talking to the baby, and that she actually
reprimands the baby when it moves too much. What recommendation should the nurse
make to this expectant father?
a. reassure him that these are normal reactions to pregnancy and suggest that she
discuss his concerns with the childbirth education nurse
b. help him to understand that his wife is experiencing normal symptoms of ambivalence
about the pregnancy and no action is needed.
c. ask him to observe his wife's behavior carefully for the next few weeks and report any
similar behavior to the nurse at the next prenatal visit.
d. let him know that these behaviors are part of normal maternal/fetal bonding which
occur once the mother feels fetal movement. - ANSWERSD
A new mother who has just had her first baby says to the nurse, "I saw the baby in the
recovery room. She sure has a funny looking head." Which response by the nurse is
best?
a. "this is not an unusual shaped head, especially for a first baby."
b. "it may look funny to you, but newborn babies are often born with heads like your
baby's"
c. "that is normal; the head will return to a round shape within 7 to 10 days."
d. "your pelvis was too small, so the baby's head had to adjust to the birth canal." -
ANSWERSC
A new mother asks the nurse, "how do I know that my daughter is getting enough breast
milk?" Which explanation will the nurse provide?
a. "weight the baby daily, and if she is gaining weight, she is eating enough."
b. "your milk is sufficient if the baby is voiding pale straw-colored urine 6 to 10 times a
day."
Questions with Correct Answers
Client teaching is an important part of the maternity nurse's role. Which factor has the
greatest influence on successful teaching of the gravid client?
a. the client's readiness to learn
b. the client's educational background
c. the order in which the information is presented
d. the extent to which the pregnancy is planned - ANSWERSA
A 38-week primigravida who works as a secretary and sits at a computer 8 hours each
day tells the nurse that her feet have begun to swell. Which instruction would be most
effective in preventing pooling of blood in the lower extremities?
a. wearing support stockings
b. reduce salt in her diet
c. move about every hour
d. avoid constrictive clothing - ANSWERSC
During a prenatal visit, the nurse discusses with a client the effects of smoking on the
fetus. When compared with nonsmokers, mothers who smoke during pregnancy tend to
produce infants who have
a. lower apgar scores
b. lower birth weights
c. respiratory distress
d. a higher rate of congenital anomalies - ANSWERSB
A 26-year-old, gravida 2, para 1 client is admitted to the hospital at 28-weeks gestation
in preterm labor. She is given 3 doses of terbutaline sulfate (Brethine) 0.25 mg
subcutaneously to stop her labor contractions. The nurse plans to monitor for which
primary side effect of terbutaline sulfate?
a. drowsiness and bradycardia
b. depressed reflexes and increased respirations
c. tachycardia and a feeling of nervousness.
d. a flushed, warm feeling and a dry mouth - ANSWERSC
A mother who is breastfeeding her baby receives instructions from the nurse. Which
instructions is most effective to prevent nipple soreness?
a. wear a cotton bra
b. increase nursing time gradually
c. correctly place the infant on the breast
d. manually express a small amount of milk before nursing - ANSWERSC
,A full term infant is transferred to the nursery from labor and delivery. Which information
is most important for the nurse to receive when planning immediate care for the
newborn?
a. length of labor and method of delivery
b. infant's condition at birth and treatment received
c. feeding methods chosen by the parents
d. history of drugs given to the mother during labor - ANSWERSB
In developing a teaching plan for expectant parents, the nurse plans to include
information about when the parents can expect the infant's fontanels to close. The nurse
bases the explanation on knowledge that for the normal new born, the
a. anterior fontanel closes at 2 to 4 months and the posterior by the end of the first week
b. anterior fontanel closes at 5 to 7 months and the posterior by the end of the second
week
c. anterior fontanel closes at 8 to 11 months and the posterior by the end of the first
month
d. anterior fontanel closes at 12 to 18 months and the posterior by the end of the
second month. - ANSWERSD
When assessing a client who is at 12-weeks gestation, the nurse recommends that she
and her husband consider attending childbirth preparation classes. When is the best
time for the couple to attend these classes?
a. at 16-week gestation
b. at 20-weeks gestation
c. at 24-weeks gestation
d. at 30-weeks gestation - ANSWERSD
The nurse should encourage the laboring client to begin pushing when
a. there is only an anterior or posterior lip of cervix left.
b. the client describes the need to have a bowel movement
c. the cervix is completely dilated
d. the cervix is completely effaced - ANSWERSC
The nurse is counseling a couple who has sought information about conceiving. For
teaching purposes, the nurse should know that ovulation usually occurs
a. two weeks before menstruation
b. immediately after menstruation
c. immediately before mensturation
d. three weeks before menstruation - ANSWERSA
The nurse instructs a laboring client to use accelerated-blow breathing. The client
begins to complain of tingling fingers and dizziness. What action should the nurse take?
a. administer oxygen by face mask.
b. notify the healthcare provider of the client's symptoms.
c. have the client breathe into her cupped hands
d. check the client's blood pressure and fetal heart rate - ANSWERSC
, When preparing a class on newborn care for expectant parents, what content should
the nurse teach concerning the newborn infant born at term gestation?
a. milia are red marks made by forceps and will disappear within 7 to 10 days
b. meconium is the first stool and is usually yellow gold in color
c. vernix is a white, cheesy substance, predominantly located in the skin folds.
d. pseudostrabismus found in newborns is treated by minor surgery - ANSWERSC
Twenty-four hours after admission to the newborn nursery, a full-term male infant
develops localized edema on the right side of his head. The nurse knows that, in the
newborn, an accumulation of blood between the periosteum and skull which does not
cross the suture line is a newborn variation known as
a. a cephalhematoma, caused by forceps trauma and may last up to 8 weeks.
b. a subarachnoid hematoma, which requires immediate drainage to prevent further
complications
c. modeling, caused by pressure during labor and will disappear within 2 to 3 days
d. a subdural hematoma which can result in lifelong damage - ANSWERSA
An expectant father tells the nurse he fears that his wife "is losing her mind". He states
she is constantly rubbing her abdomen and talking to the baby, and that she actually
reprimands the baby when it moves too much. What recommendation should the nurse
make to this expectant father?
a. reassure him that these are normal reactions to pregnancy and suggest that she
discuss his concerns with the childbirth education nurse
b. help him to understand that his wife is experiencing normal symptoms of ambivalence
about the pregnancy and no action is needed.
c. ask him to observe his wife's behavior carefully for the next few weeks and report any
similar behavior to the nurse at the next prenatal visit.
d. let him know that these behaviors are part of normal maternal/fetal bonding which
occur once the mother feels fetal movement. - ANSWERSD
A new mother who has just had her first baby says to the nurse, "I saw the baby in the
recovery room. She sure has a funny looking head." Which response by the nurse is
best?
a. "this is not an unusual shaped head, especially for a first baby."
b. "it may look funny to you, but newborn babies are often born with heads like your
baby's"
c. "that is normal; the head will return to a round shape within 7 to 10 days."
d. "your pelvis was too small, so the baby's head had to adjust to the birth canal." -
ANSWERSC
A new mother asks the nurse, "how do I know that my daughter is getting enough breast
milk?" Which explanation will the nurse provide?
a. "weight the baby daily, and if she is gaining weight, she is eating enough."
b. "your milk is sufficient if the baby is voiding pale straw-colored urine 6 to 10 times a
day."
