AWHONN Advanced Fetal Heart Monitoring (FHM)
Course Exam | Complete Study Guide, Test Bank,
Practice Questions, and Verified Answer Key for
Labor & Delivery Nurses, Midwives, and OB/GYN
Certification Prep (Latest 2025–2026 Edition)
Question 1
What is the primary purpose of fetal heart rate monitoring?
A) To assess maternal health
B) To evaluate fetal well-being and detect potential distress
C) To monitor uterine contractions
D) To determine gestational age
Rationale: The primary purpose of fetal heart rate monitoring is to assess the well-being
of the fetus and identify any signs of distress that may require intervention.
Question 2
Which fetal heart rate pattern is indicative of fetal hypoxia?
A) Accelerations
B) Decelerations
C) Baseline variability
D) Normal baseline
Rationale: Decelerations, especially late decelerations, can indicate fetal hypoxia or
distress, necessitating further evaluation and potential intervention.
Question 3
What does baseline fetal heart rate refer to?
A) The highest rate during contractions
B) The average heart rate over a 10-minute period
C) The lowest rate observed
D) The rate during maternal rest
Rationale: Baseline fetal heart rate is defined as the average heart rate observed over a
10-minute period, providing a reference for fetal well-being.
Question 4
How is variability in fetal heart rate defined?
A) Fluctuations in heart rate
B) The irregularity in the heartbeat that reflects fetal well-being
C) A constant heart rate
D) The heart rate during contractions
,Rationale: Variability refers to the fluctuations in the fetal heart rate that indicate the
autonomic nervous system's responsiveness and overall fetal well-being.
Question 5
What is the significance of accelerations in fetal heart rate monitoring?
A) They indicate fetal distress
B) They are a reassuring sign of fetal well-being
C) They are always concerning
D) They indicate maternal anxiety
Rationale: Accelerations are generally considered a positive sign, suggesting that the
fetus is well-oxygenated and responding appropriately to stimuli.
Question 6
What does a "category I" fetal heart rate pattern indicate?
A) Abnormal findings
B) Normal findings requiring routine care
C) Need for immediate intervention
D) Potential fetal distress
Rationale: A category I pattern is considered normal and indicates that the fetus is well,
requiring only routine monitoring.
Question 7
What is the primary intervention for late decelerations?
A) Increase maternal hydration
B) Change maternal position
C) Administer oxygen
D) Increase fetal monitoring frequency
Rationale: Changing the maternal position can help relieve pressure on the umbilical
cord and improve fetal oxygenation, addressing the cause of late decelerations.
Question 8
How can maternal fever affect fetal heart rate?
A) It has no effect
B) It can lead to increased fetal heart rate
C) It causes bradycardia
D) It stabilizes the fetal heart rate
,Rationale: Maternal fever can cause an increase in fetal heart rate due to stress
responses and potential infection.
Question 9
What does a fetal heart rate of 120-160 bpm typically indicate?
A) Fetal distress
B) Normal fetal heart rate
C) Maternal anxiety
D) Need for further evaluation
Rationale: A fetal heart rate within the range of 120-160 beats per minute is considered
normal and indicative of a well-oxygenated fetus.
Question 10
What is the primary goal of fetal heart rate monitoring during labor?
A) To monitor maternal health
B) To assess fetal well-being and detect any signs of distress
C) To predict delivery time
D) To evaluate uterine contractions
Rationale: The primary goal during labor is to continuously assess fetal well-being and
identify any signs of distress that may require intervention.
Question 11
What does a category II fetal heart rate pattern represent?
A) Normal findings
B) Indeterminate findings requiring further evaluation
C) Abnormal findings
D) Need for immediate intervention
Rationale: A category II pattern indicates indeterminate findings that may require close
monitoring and further evaluation to determine the need for intervention.
Question 12
How should fetal heart rate monitoring be adjusted for patients with an epidural?
A) Increase monitoring frequency
B) Position the patient appropriately to enhance fetal monitoring
C) Reduce monitoring time
D) Ignore changes in fetal heart rate
, Rationale: Proper positioning can help enhance fetal heart rate monitoring
effectiveness and ensure accurate assessments post-epidural.
Question 13
What is the significance of uterine contractions in relation to fetal heart rate?
A) They have no impact
B) They can cause changes in fetal heart rate patterns
C) They stabilize fetal heart rate
D) They are only relevant in the second stage of labor
Rationale: Uterine contractions can impact fetal heart rate, especially in terms of
decelerations, and must be monitored closely during labor.
Question 14
What intervention is appropriate for variable decelerations?
A) Change the maternal position
B) Administer oxygen to the mother
C) Increase fluid intake
D) Prepare for immediate delivery
Rationale: Variable decelerations often result from umbilical cord compression;
changing the maternal position can alleviate this compression and improve fetal heart
rate.
Question 15
What does prolonged deceleration indicate?
A) Normal fetal response
B) Potential fetal distress requiring urgent evaluation
C) Maternal stress
D) Need for increased monitoring
Rationale: Prolonged decelerations may indicate fetal distress and require immediate
evaluation and possible intervention to ensure fetal well-being.
Question 16
What factors can affect fetal heart rate variability?
A) Maternal position
B) Gestational age, medications, and fetal sleep cycles
Course Exam | Complete Study Guide, Test Bank,
Practice Questions, and Verified Answer Key for
Labor & Delivery Nurses, Midwives, and OB/GYN
Certification Prep (Latest 2025–2026 Edition)
Question 1
What is the primary purpose of fetal heart rate monitoring?
A) To assess maternal health
B) To evaluate fetal well-being and detect potential distress
C) To monitor uterine contractions
D) To determine gestational age
Rationale: The primary purpose of fetal heart rate monitoring is to assess the well-being
of the fetus and identify any signs of distress that may require intervention.
Question 2
Which fetal heart rate pattern is indicative of fetal hypoxia?
A) Accelerations
B) Decelerations
C) Baseline variability
D) Normal baseline
Rationale: Decelerations, especially late decelerations, can indicate fetal hypoxia or
distress, necessitating further evaluation and potential intervention.
Question 3
What does baseline fetal heart rate refer to?
A) The highest rate during contractions
B) The average heart rate over a 10-minute period
C) The lowest rate observed
D) The rate during maternal rest
Rationale: Baseline fetal heart rate is defined as the average heart rate observed over a
10-minute period, providing a reference for fetal well-being.
Question 4
How is variability in fetal heart rate defined?
A) Fluctuations in heart rate
B) The irregularity in the heartbeat that reflects fetal well-being
C) A constant heart rate
D) The heart rate during contractions
,Rationale: Variability refers to the fluctuations in the fetal heart rate that indicate the
autonomic nervous system's responsiveness and overall fetal well-being.
Question 5
What is the significance of accelerations in fetal heart rate monitoring?
A) They indicate fetal distress
B) They are a reassuring sign of fetal well-being
C) They are always concerning
D) They indicate maternal anxiety
Rationale: Accelerations are generally considered a positive sign, suggesting that the
fetus is well-oxygenated and responding appropriately to stimuli.
Question 6
What does a "category I" fetal heart rate pattern indicate?
A) Abnormal findings
B) Normal findings requiring routine care
C) Need for immediate intervention
D) Potential fetal distress
Rationale: A category I pattern is considered normal and indicates that the fetus is well,
requiring only routine monitoring.
Question 7
What is the primary intervention for late decelerations?
A) Increase maternal hydration
B) Change maternal position
C) Administer oxygen
D) Increase fetal monitoring frequency
Rationale: Changing the maternal position can help relieve pressure on the umbilical
cord and improve fetal oxygenation, addressing the cause of late decelerations.
Question 8
How can maternal fever affect fetal heart rate?
A) It has no effect
B) It can lead to increased fetal heart rate
C) It causes bradycardia
D) It stabilizes the fetal heart rate
,Rationale: Maternal fever can cause an increase in fetal heart rate due to stress
responses and potential infection.
Question 9
What does a fetal heart rate of 120-160 bpm typically indicate?
A) Fetal distress
B) Normal fetal heart rate
C) Maternal anxiety
D) Need for further evaluation
Rationale: A fetal heart rate within the range of 120-160 beats per minute is considered
normal and indicative of a well-oxygenated fetus.
Question 10
What is the primary goal of fetal heart rate monitoring during labor?
A) To monitor maternal health
B) To assess fetal well-being and detect any signs of distress
C) To predict delivery time
D) To evaluate uterine contractions
Rationale: The primary goal during labor is to continuously assess fetal well-being and
identify any signs of distress that may require intervention.
Question 11
What does a category II fetal heart rate pattern represent?
A) Normal findings
B) Indeterminate findings requiring further evaluation
C) Abnormal findings
D) Need for immediate intervention
Rationale: A category II pattern indicates indeterminate findings that may require close
monitoring and further evaluation to determine the need for intervention.
Question 12
How should fetal heart rate monitoring be adjusted for patients with an epidural?
A) Increase monitoring frequency
B) Position the patient appropriately to enhance fetal monitoring
C) Reduce monitoring time
D) Ignore changes in fetal heart rate
, Rationale: Proper positioning can help enhance fetal heart rate monitoring
effectiveness and ensure accurate assessments post-epidural.
Question 13
What is the significance of uterine contractions in relation to fetal heart rate?
A) They have no impact
B) They can cause changes in fetal heart rate patterns
C) They stabilize fetal heart rate
D) They are only relevant in the second stage of labor
Rationale: Uterine contractions can impact fetal heart rate, especially in terms of
decelerations, and must be monitored closely during labor.
Question 14
What intervention is appropriate for variable decelerations?
A) Change the maternal position
B) Administer oxygen to the mother
C) Increase fluid intake
D) Prepare for immediate delivery
Rationale: Variable decelerations often result from umbilical cord compression;
changing the maternal position can alleviate this compression and improve fetal heart
rate.
Question 15
What does prolonged deceleration indicate?
A) Normal fetal response
B) Potential fetal distress requiring urgent evaluation
C) Maternal stress
D) Need for increased monitoring
Rationale: Prolonged decelerations may indicate fetal distress and require immediate
evaluation and possible intervention to ensure fetal well-being.
Question 16
What factors can affect fetal heart rate variability?
A) Maternal position
B) Gestational age, medications, and fetal sleep cycles
