Page 1 of 75
SAFE MATERNITY HESI COMPREHENSIVE 2026
QUESTIONS EXAM LATEST VERSION SOLVED QUESTIONS
& ANSWERS VERIFIED 100 %
A new mother asks the nurse, "How do I know that my daughter is getting
enough breast milk?" Which explanation is appropriate?
A."Weigh the baby daily, and if she is gaining weight, she is getting enough to
eat."
B."Your milk is sufficient if the baby is voiding pale, straw-colored urine six to
ten times a day."
C."Offer the baby extra bottled milk after her feeding and see if she still seems
hungry."
D."If you're concerned, you might consider bottle feeding so that you can
monitor intake."
B."Your milk is sufficient if the baby is voiding pale, straw-colored urine six to ten
times a day."
Rationale: The urine will be dilute (straw-colored) and frequent (>6 to 10 times/day),
if the infant is adequately hydrated. Although a weight gain of 30 g/day is indicative
of adequate nutrition, most home scales do not measure this accurately, and the
suggestion will likely make the mother anxious. Option C causes nipple confusion
and diminishes the mother's milk production. Option D does not address the client's
question.
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The client comes to the hospital assuming she is in labor. Which assessment
findings by the nurse would indicate that the client is in true labor? (Select all
that apply.)
A.Pain in the lower back that radiates to abdomen
B.Contractions decreased in frequency with ambulation
C.Progressive cervical dilation and effacement
D.Discomfort localized in the abdomen
E.Regular and rhythmic painful contractions
A.Pain in the lower back that radiates to abdomen
C.Progressive cervical dilation and effacement
E.Regular and rhythmic painful contractions
Rationale: These are all signs of true labor. Options B and D are signs of false labor.
Which statement made by the client indicates that the mother understands the
limitations of breastfeeding her newborn?
A."Breastfeeding my infant consistently every 3 to 4 hours stops ovulation and
my period."
B."Breastfeeding my baby immediately after drinking alcohol is safer than
waiting for the alcohol to clear my breast milk."
C."I can start smoking cigarettes while breastfeeding because it will not affect
my breast milk."
D."When I take a warm shower after I breastfeed, it relieves the pain from being
engorged between breastfeedings.
A."Breastfeeding my infant consistently every 3 to 4 hours stops ovulation and my
period."
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Rationale: Continuous breastfeeding on a 3- to 4-hour schedule during the day will
cause a release of prolactin, which will suppress ovulation and menses, but is not
completely effective as a birth control method. Option B is incorrect because alcohol
can immediately enter the breast milk. Nicotine is transferred to the infant in breast
milk. Taking a warm shower will stimulate the production of milk, which will be more
painful after breastfeedings.
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 unusually shaped head, especially for a first baby."
B."It may look odd, but newborn babies are often born with heads like that."
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 head had to adjust to the birth canal."
C."That is normal. The head will return to a round shape within 7 to 10 days."
Rationale: Option C reassures the mother that this is normal in the newborn and
provides correct information regarding the return to a normal shape. Although option
A is correct, it implies that the client should not worry. Any implied or spoken "don't
worry" is usually the wrong answer. Option B is condescending and dismissing; the
mother is seeking reassurance and information. Option D is a negative statement
and implies that molding is the mother's fault.
Twenty minutes after a continuous epidural anesthetic is administered, a
laboring client's blood pressure drops from 120/80 to 90/60 mm Hg. Which
action should the nurse take immediately?
A.Notify the health care provider or anesthesiologist.
B.Continue to assess the blood pressure every 5 minutes.
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C.Place the client in a lateral position.
D.Turn off the continuous epidural.
C.Place the client in a lateral position.
Rationale: The nurse should immediately turn the client to a lateral position or place
a pillow or wedge under one hip to deflect the uterus. Other immediate interventions
include increasing the rate of the main line IV infusion and administering oxygen by
facemask. If the blood pressure remains low after these interventions or decreases
further, the anesthesiologist or health care provider should be notified immediately.
To continue to monitor blood pressure without taking further action could constitute
malpractice. Option D may also be warranted, but such action is based on hospital
protocol.
The nurse is teaching a new mother about diet and breastfeeding. Which
instruction is most important to include in the teaching plan?
A.Avoid alcohol because it is excreted in breast milk.
B.Eat a high-roughage diet to help prevent constipation.
C.Increase caloric intake by approximately 500 cal/day.
D.Increase fluid intake to at least 3 quarts each day.
A.Avoid alcohol because it is excreted in breast milk.
Rationale: Alcohol should be avoided while breastfeeding because it is excreted in
breast milk and may cause a variety of problems, including slower growth and
cognitive impairment for the infant. Options B, C, and D should also be included in
diet teaching for a breastfeeding mother; however, because these do not involve
safety of the infant, they do not have the same degree of importance as option A.
A client at 28 weeks of gestation calls the antepartal clinic and states that she
has just experienced a small amount of vaginal bleeding, which she describes
as bright red. The bleeding has subsided. She further states that she is not
experiencing any uterine contractions or abdominal pain. What instruction
SAFE MATERNITY HESI COMPREHENSIVE 2026
QUESTIONS EXAM LATEST VERSION SOLVED QUESTIONS
& ANSWERS VERIFIED 100 %
A new mother asks the nurse, "How do I know that my daughter is getting
enough breast milk?" Which explanation is appropriate?
A."Weigh the baby daily, and if she is gaining weight, she is getting enough to
eat."
B."Your milk is sufficient if the baby is voiding pale, straw-colored urine six to
ten times a day."
C."Offer the baby extra bottled milk after her feeding and see if she still seems
hungry."
D."If you're concerned, you might consider bottle feeding so that you can
monitor intake."
B."Your milk is sufficient if the baby is voiding pale, straw-colored urine six to ten
times a day."
Rationale: The urine will be dilute (straw-colored) and frequent (>6 to 10 times/day),
if the infant is adequately hydrated. Although a weight gain of 30 g/day is indicative
of adequate nutrition, most home scales do not measure this accurately, and the
suggestion will likely make the mother anxious. Option C causes nipple confusion
and diminishes the mother's milk production. Option D does not address the client's
question.
, Page 2 of 75
The client comes to the hospital assuming she is in labor. Which assessment
findings by the nurse would indicate that the client is in true labor? (Select all
that apply.)
A.Pain in the lower back that radiates to abdomen
B.Contractions decreased in frequency with ambulation
C.Progressive cervical dilation and effacement
D.Discomfort localized in the abdomen
E.Regular and rhythmic painful contractions
A.Pain in the lower back that radiates to abdomen
C.Progressive cervical dilation and effacement
E.Regular and rhythmic painful contractions
Rationale: These are all signs of true labor. Options B and D are signs of false labor.
Which statement made by the client indicates that the mother understands the
limitations of breastfeeding her newborn?
A."Breastfeeding my infant consistently every 3 to 4 hours stops ovulation and
my period."
B."Breastfeeding my baby immediately after drinking alcohol is safer than
waiting for the alcohol to clear my breast milk."
C."I can start smoking cigarettes while breastfeeding because it will not affect
my breast milk."
D."When I take a warm shower after I breastfeed, it relieves the pain from being
engorged between breastfeedings.
A."Breastfeeding my infant consistently every 3 to 4 hours stops ovulation and my
period."
, Page 3 of 75
Rationale: Continuous breastfeeding on a 3- to 4-hour schedule during the day will
cause a release of prolactin, which will suppress ovulation and menses, but is not
completely effective as a birth control method. Option B is incorrect because alcohol
can immediately enter the breast milk. Nicotine is transferred to the infant in breast
milk. Taking a warm shower will stimulate the production of milk, which will be more
painful after breastfeedings.
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 unusually shaped head, especially for a first baby."
B."It may look odd, but newborn babies are often born with heads like that."
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 head had to adjust to the birth canal."
C."That is normal. The head will return to a round shape within 7 to 10 days."
Rationale: Option C reassures the mother that this is normal in the newborn and
provides correct information regarding the return to a normal shape. Although option
A is correct, it implies that the client should not worry. Any implied or spoken "don't
worry" is usually the wrong answer. Option B is condescending and dismissing; the
mother is seeking reassurance and information. Option D is a negative statement
and implies that molding is the mother's fault.
Twenty minutes after a continuous epidural anesthetic is administered, a
laboring client's blood pressure drops from 120/80 to 90/60 mm Hg. Which
action should the nurse take immediately?
A.Notify the health care provider or anesthesiologist.
B.Continue to assess the blood pressure every 5 minutes.
, Page 4 of 75
C.Place the client in a lateral position.
D.Turn off the continuous epidural.
C.Place the client in a lateral position.
Rationale: The nurse should immediately turn the client to a lateral position or place
a pillow or wedge under one hip to deflect the uterus. Other immediate interventions
include increasing the rate of the main line IV infusion and administering oxygen by
facemask. If the blood pressure remains low after these interventions or decreases
further, the anesthesiologist or health care provider should be notified immediately.
To continue to monitor blood pressure without taking further action could constitute
malpractice. Option D may also be warranted, but such action is based on hospital
protocol.
The nurse is teaching a new mother about diet and breastfeeding. Which
instruction is most important to include in the teaching plan?
A.Avoid alcohol because it is excreted in breast milk.
B.Eat a high-roughage diet to help prevent constipation.
C.Increase caloric intake by approximately 500 cal/day.
D.Increase fluid intake to at least 3 quarts each day.
A.Avoid alcohol because it is excreted in breast milk.
Rationale: Alcohol should be avoided while breastfeeding because it is excreted in
breast milk and may cause a variety of problems, including slower growth and
cognitive impairment for the infant. Options B, C, and D should also be included in
diet teaching for a breastfeeding mother; however, because these do not involve
safety of the infant, they do not have the same degree of importance as option A.
A client at 28 weeks of gestation calls the antepartal clinic and states that she
has just experienced a small amount of vaginal bleeding, which she describes
as bright red. The bleeding has subsided. She further states that she is not
experiencing any uterine contractions or abdominal pain. What instruction
