HESI OB MATERNITY ONLINE PRACTICE
EXAM 2026 | ALL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS | ALREADY GRADED
A+ | LATEST VERSION (JUST RELEASED)
QUESTION 1
Twenty minutes after a continuous epidural anesthetic is administered, a laboring
client's blood pressure drops from 120/80 to 90/60. What action will the nurse take?
A. Notify the healthcare provider or anesthesiologist immediately
B. Continue to assess the blood pressure q5 minutes
C. Place the woman in a lateral position
D. Turn off the continuous epidural
ANSWER - C. Place the woman in a lateral position
RATIONALE - These symptoms are suggestive of hypotension which is a side effect
of epidural anesthesia. Raising the foot of the bed will increase venous return and
provide blood to the vital areas. Increasing the IV fluid rate using a balanced non-
dextrose solution and ensuring that the client is in a lateral position are also
appropriate interventions, and then checking the patient's blood pressure.
QUESTION 2
A newborn infant is brought to the nursery from the birthing suite. The nurse notices
that the infant is breathing satisfactorily but appears dusky. What action should the
nurse take first?
A. Notify the pediatrician immediately
B. Suction the infant's nares, then the oral cavity
,C. Check the infant's oxygen saturation rate
D. Position the infant on the right side
ANSWER - C. Check the infant's oxygen saturation rate
RATIONALE - When possible, the nurse should first obtain measurable objective
data; an oxygen saturation rate provides such information. The pediatrician should be
notified if the oxygen saturation rate is below 90%.
QUESTION 3
The nurse is teaching breastfeeding to prospective parents in a childbirth education
class. Which instruction should the nurse include as content in the class?
A. Begin as soon as your baby is born to establish a four-hour feeding schedule
B. Resting helps with milk production. Ask that your baby be fed at night in the
nursery
C. Feed your baby every 2 to 3 hours or on demand, whichever comes first
D. Do not allow your baby to nurse any longer than the prescribed number of minutes
ANSWER - C. Feed your baby every 2 to 3 hours or on demand, whichever comes
first
RATIONALE - Breastfeeding infants should be kept in the room with the mother
and fed every 2 to 3 hours or on demand—whichever comes first.
QUESTION 4
A client is admitted with the diagnosis of total placenta previa. Which finding is most
important for the nurse to report to the healthcare provider immediately?
A. Heart rate of 100 beats/minute
B. Variable fetal heart rate
,C. Onset of uterine contractions
D. Burning on urination
ANSWER - C. Onset of uterine contractions
RATIONALE - Total (complete) placenta previa involves the placenta covering the
entire cervical os. The onset of uterine contractions places the client at risk for
dilation and placental separation, which causes painless hemorrhaging.
QUESTION 5
A 42-week gestational client is receiving an intravenous infusion of oxytocin (Pitocin)
to augment early labor. The nurse should discontinue the oxytocin infusion for which
pattern of contractions?
A. Transition labor with contractions every 2 minutes, lasting 90 seconds each
B. Early labor with contractions every 5 minutes, lasting 40 seconds each
C. Active labor with contractions every 31 minutes, lasting 60 seconds each
D. Active labor with contractions every 3 to 3 minutes, lasting 70 to 80 seconds each
ANSWER - A. Transition labor with contractions every 2 minutes, lasting 90 seconds
each
RATIONALE - When oxytocin causes uterine hyperstimulation as evidenced by
inadequate resting time between contractions, the oxytocin infusion should be
discontinued because placental perfusion is impeded.
QUESTION 6
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. molding, caused by pressure during labor and will disappear within 2 to 3 days
D. a subdural hematoma which can result in lifelong damage
ANSWER - A. a cephalhematoma, caused by forceps trauma and may last up to 8
weeks
RATIONALE - Cephalhematoma, a slight abnormal variation of the newborn,
usually arises within the first 24 hours after delivery. Trauma from delivery causes
capillary bleeding between the periosteum and the skull.
QUESTION 7
The nurse is assessing a 3-day old infant with a cephalohematoma in the newborn
nursery. Which assessment finding should the nurse report to the healthcare provider?
A. Yellowish tinge to the skin
B. Babinski reflex present bilaterally
C. Pink papular rash on the face
D. Moro reflex noted after a loud noise
ANSWER - A. Yellowish tinge to the skin
RATIONALE - Cephalohematomas are characterized by bleeding between the bone
and its covering, the periosteum. Due to the breakdown of the red blood cells within a
hematoma, the infant is at a greater risk for jaundice, so a yellowish tinge to the skin
should be reported.
EXAM 2026 | ALL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS | ALREADY GRADED
A+ | LATEST VERSION (JUST RELEASED)
QUESTION 1
Twenty minutes after a continuous epidural anesthetic is administered, a laboring
client's blood pressure drops from 120/80 to 90/60. What action will the nurse take?
A. Notify the healthcare provider or anesthesiologist immediately
B. Continue to assess the blood pressure q5 minutes
C. Place the woman in a lateral position
D. Turn off the continuous epidural
ANSWER - C. Place the woman in a lateral position
RATIONALE - These symptoms are suggestive of hypotension which is a side effect
of epidural anesthesia. Raising the foot of the bed will increase venous return and
provide blood to the vital areas. Increasing the IV fluid rate using a balanced non-
dextrose solution and ensuring that the client is in a lateral position are also
appropriate interventions, and then checking the patient's blood pressure.
QUESTION 2
A newborn infant is brought to the nursery from the birthing suite. The nurse notices
that the infant is breathing satisfactorily but appears dusky. What action should the
nurse take first?
A. Notify the pediatrician immediately
B. Suction the infant's nares, then the oral cavity
,C. Check the infant's oxygen saturation rate
D. Position the infant on the right side
ANSWER - C. Check the infant's oxygen saturation rate
RATIONALE - When possible, the nurse should first obtain measurable objective
data; an oxygen saturation rate provides such information. The pediatrician should be
notified if the oxygen saturation rate is below 90%.
QUESTION 3
The nurse is teaching breastfeeding to prospective parents in a childbirth education
class. Which instruction should the nurse include as content in the class?
A. Begin as soon as your baby is born to establish a four-hour feeding schedule
B. Resting helps with milk production. Ask that your baby be fed at night in the
nursery
C. Feed your baby every 2 to 3 hours or on demand, whichever comes first
D. Do not allow your baby to nurse any longer than the prescribed number of minutes
ANSWER - C. Feed your baby every 2 to 3 hours or on demand, whichever comes
first
RATIONALE - Breastfeeding infants should be kept in the room with the mother
and fed every 2 to 3 hours or on demand—whichever comes first.
QUESTION 4
A client is admitted with the diagnosis of total placenta previa. Which finding is most
important for the nurse to report to the healthcare provider immediately?
A. Heart rate of 100 beats/minute
B. Variable fetal heart rate
,C. Onset of uterine contractions
D. Burning on urination
ANSWER - C. Onset of uterine contractions
RATIONALE - Total (complete) placenta previa involves the placenta covering the
entire cervical os. The onset of uterine contractions places the client at risk for
dilation and placental separation, which causes painless hemorrhaging.
QUESTION 5
A 42-week gestational client is receiving an intravenous infusion of oxytocin (Pitocin)
to augment early labor. The nurse should discontinue the oxytocin infusion for which
pattern of contractions?
A. Transition labor with contractions every 2 minutes, lasting 90 seconds each
B. Early labor with contractions every 5 minutes, lasting 40 seconds each
C. Active labor with contractions every 31 minutes, lasting 60 seconds each
D. Active labor with contractions every 3 to 3 minutes, lasting 70 to 80 seconds each
ANSWER - A. Transition labor with contractions every 2 minutes, lasting 90 seconds
each
RATIONALE - When oxytocin causes uterine hyperstimulation as evidenced by
inadequate resting time between contractions, the oxytocin infusion should be
discontinued because placental perfusion is impeded.
QUESTION 6
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. molding, caused by pressure during labor and will disappear within 2 to 3 days
D. a subdural hematoma which can result in lifelong damage
ANSWER - A. a cephalhematoma, caused by forceps trauma and may last up to 8
weeks
RATIONALE - Cephalhematoma, a slight abnormal variation of the newborn,
usually arises within the first 24 hours after delivery. Trauma from delivery causes
capillary bleeding between the periosteum and the skull.
QUESTION 7
The nurse is assessing a 3-day old infant with a cephalohematoma in the newborn
nursery. Which assessment finding should the nurse report to the healthcare provider?
A. Yellowish tinge to the skin
B. Babinski reflex present bilaterally
C. Pink papular rash on the face
D. Moro reflex noted after a loud noise
ANSWER - A. Yellowish tinge to the skin
RATIONALE - Cephalohematomas are characterized by bleeding between the bone
and its covering, the periosteum. Due to the breakdown of the red blood cells within a
hematoma, the infant is at a greater risk for jaundice, so a yellowish tinge to the skin
should be reported.
