HESI RN MATERNITY EXAMINATION
V1 Maternity HESI RN 55
Complete Questions & Answers (Verified)
A+ Graded – 2026/2027 Edition
Official Practice Exam · 2026/2027 Edition
Questions Minutes Passing Score Recertification
55 90 80% Annual
Table of Contents
Section 1: Antepartum Nursing Care . . . . 11 questions (Q1–Q11)
Section 2: Intrapartum Nursing Care . . . . 14 questions (Q12–Q25)
Section 3: Postpartum Nursing Care . . . . 11 questions (Q26–Q36)
Section 4: Newborn Nursing Care . . . . 11 questions (Q37–Q47)
Section 5: High-Risk Pregnancy and Complications . . . . 8 questions (Q48–Q55)
Instructions
This practice exam contains 55 multiple-choice questions divided into 5 sections. You have 90 minutes to
complete the exam. A passing score of 80% (44 correct answers) is required. Select the single best answer
for each question. All questions are weighted equally. Review the rationale for each answer to strengthen
your understanding of maternity nursing concepts for the HESI RN V1 examination.
Maternity HESI V1 — 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 1 of {TOTAL}
, Section 1: Antepartum Nursing Care — 2026/2027
Q1 Question 1 of 55
A 26-year-old primigravida at 12 weeks gestation presents to the prenatal clinic for her first visit. She
reports mild nausea and vomiting that occurs primarily in the morning. The nurse assesses her vital
signs and fundal height. What is the most appropriate initial nursing intervention for this patient?
A. Advise the client to eat dry crackers before getting out of bed and consume small, frequent
meals throughout the day
B. Prescribe an antiemetic medication such as ondansetron to control the nausea and vomiting
C. Instruct the client to avoid all oral intake for 24 hours to rest the gastrointestinal tract
D. Recommend immediate hospitalization for intravenous hydration and electrolyte replacement
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Dry crackers before rising and small frequent meals are first-line interventions for morning nausea in
pregnancy. Antiemetics are reserved for persistent hyperemesis, avoiding all oral intake worsens nutritional
status, and hospitalization is unnecessary for mild nausea at this gestational age.
Q2 Question 2 of 55
A 30-year-old multigravida at 20 weeks gestation calls the clinic reporting round ligament pain on the
right side of her abdomen after suddenly standing up. The pain is sharp but brief and there is no
vaginal bleeding. What should the nurse advise this patient?
A. Begin taking ibuprofen 400 mg every 6 hours to reduce inflammation and pain
B. Use slow, deliberate movements when changing positions and apply a warm compress to
the affected area for comfort
C. Go to the emergency department immediately to rule out an ectopic pregnancy or placental
abruption
D. Lie flat on her back with legs elevated to reduce uterine pressure on the ligaments
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Round ligament pain is a normal discomfort of pregnancy caused by stretching of the uterine ligaments, and
positional changes with warm compresses provide relief. Emergency evaluation is not needed without bleeding
or severe pain, supine positioning can cause aortocaval compression, and ibuprofen is contraindicated in
pregnancy.
Maternity HESI V1 — 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 2 of {TOTAL}
, Q3 Question 3 of 55
A 22-year-old pregnant client at 16 weeks gestation undergoes a maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein
(MSAFP) screening test. The results show an elevated MSAFP level. The nurse understands that an
elevated MSAFP at this gestational age is most strongly associated with which condition?
A. Gestational diabetes mellitus developing in the mother
B. Intrauterine growth restriction affecting the fetus
C. Neural tube defects such as spina bifida or anencephaly in the developing fetus
D. Down syndrome (trisomy 21) in the developing fetus
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Elevated MSAFP is most strongly associated with neural tube defects because alpha-fetoprotein leaks from the
fetal circulation through open defects. Down syndrome is associated with decreased MSAFP, gestational
diabetes is not detected by MSAFP, and IUGR is not specifically associated with elevated MSAFP levels.
Q4 Question 4 of 55
A 28-year-old primigravida at 28 weeks gestation reports feeling dizzy and lightheaded when she lies
on her back during her prenatal appointments. The nurse recognizes this as supine hypotensive
syndrome. What is the most appropriate teaching for this client?
A. Elevate the head of the bed to at least 45 degrees to improve cerebral blood flow during rest
B. Increase sodium intake to expand blood volume and prevent orthostatic hypotension episodes
C. Wear abdominal support binders to lift the uterus off the vena cava while lying supine
D. Sleep and rest in a side-lying position, preferably on the left side, to prevent compression of
the vena cava by the gravid uterus
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
Side-lying positioning, especially left lateral, relieves aortocaval compression by the gravid uterus. Head
elevation alone does not address vena cava compression, increased sodium is not recommended during
pregnancy, and abdominal binders do not effectively prevent supine hypotension.
Maternity HESI V1 — 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 3 of {TOTAL}
V1 Maternity HESI RN 55
Complete Questions & Answers (Verified)
A+ Graded – 2026/2027 Edition
Official Practice Exam · 2026/2027 Edition
Questions Minutes Passing Score Recertification
55 90 80% Annual
Table of Contents
Section 1: Antepartum Nursing Care . . . . 11 questions (Q1–Q11)
Section 2: Intrapartum Nursing Care . . . . 14 questions (Q12–Q25)
Section 3: Postpartum Nursing Care . . . . 11 questions (Q26–Q36)
Section 4: Newborn Nursing Care . . . . 11 questions (Q37–Q47)
Section 5: High-Risk Pregnancy and Complications . . . . 8 questions (Q48–Q55)
Instructions
This practice exam contains 55 multiple-choice questions divided into 5 sections. You have 90 minutes to
complete the exam. A passing score of 80% (44 correct answers) is required. Select the single best answer
for each question. All questions are weighted equally. Review the rationale for each answer to strengthen
your understanding of maternity nursing concepts for the HESI RN V1 examination.
Maternity HESI V1 — 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 1 of {TOTAL}
, Section 1: Antepartum Nursing Care — 2026/2027
Q1 Question 1 of 55
A 26-year-old primigravida at 12 weeks gestation presents to the prenatal clinic for her first visit. She
reports mild nausea and vomiting that occurs primarily in the morning. The nurse assesses her vital
signs and fundal height. What is the most appropriate initial nursing intervention for this patient?
A. Advise the client to eat dry crackers before getting out of bed and consume small, frequent
meals throughout the day
B. Prescribe an antiemetic medication such as ondansetron to control the nausea and vomiting
C. Instruct the client to avoid all oral intake for 24 hours to rest the gastrointestinal tract
D. Recommend immediate hospitalization for intravenous hydration and electrolyte replacement
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Dry crackers before rising and small frequent meals are first-line interventions for morning nausea in
pregnancy. Antiemetics are reserved for persistent hyperemesis, avoiding all oral intake worsens nutritional
status, and hospitalization is unnecessary for mild nausea at this gestational age.
Q2 Question 2 of 55
A 30-year-old multigravida at 20 weeks gestation calls the clinic reporting round ligament pain on the
right side of her abdomen after suddenly standing up. The pain is sharp but brief and there is no
vaginal bleeding. What should the nurse advise this patient?
A. Begin taking ibuprofen 400 mg every 6 hours to reduce inflammation and pain
B. Use slow, deliberate movements when changing positions and apply a warm compress to
the affected area for comfort
C. Go to the emergency department immediately to rule out an ectopic pregnancy or placental
abruption
D. Lie flat on her back with legs elevated to reduce uterine pressure on the ligaments
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Round ligament pain is a normal discomfort of pregnancy caused by stretching of the uterine ligaments, and
positional changes with warm compresses provide relief. Emergency evaluation is not needed without bleeding
or severe pain, supine positioning can cause aortocaval compression, and ibuprofen is contraindicated in
pregnancy.
Maternity HESI V1 — 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 2 of {TOTAL}
, Q3 Question 3 of 55
A 22-year-old pregnant client at 16 weeks gestation undergoes a maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein
(MSAFP) screening test. The results show an elevated MSAFP level. The nurse understands that an
elevated MSAFP at this gestational age is most strongly associated with which condition?
A. Gestational diabetes mellitus developing in the mother
B. Intrauterine growth restriction affecting the fetus
C. Neural tube defects such as spina bifida or anencephaly in the developing fetus
D. Down syndrome (trisomy 21) in the developing fetus
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Elevated MSAFP is most strongly associated with neural tube defects because alpha-fetoprotein leaks from the
fetal circulation through open defects. Down syndrome is associated with decreased MSAFP, gestational
diabetes is not detected by MSAFP, and IUGR is not specifically associated with elevated MSAFP levels.
Q4 Question 4 of 55
A 28-year-old primigravida at 28 weeks gestation reports feeling dizzy and lightheaded when she lies
on her back during her prenatal appointments. The nurse recognizes this as supine hypotensive
syndrome. What is the most appropriate teaching for this client?
A. Elevate the head of the bed to at least 45 degrees to improve cerebral blood flow during rest
B. Increase sodium intake to expand blood volume and prevent orthostatic hypotension episodes
C. Wear abdominal support binders to lift the uterus off the vena cava while lying supine
D. Sleep and rest in a side-lying position, preferably on the left side, to prevent compression of
the vena cava by the gravid uterus
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
Side-lying positioning, especially left lateral, relieves aortocaval compression by the gravid uterus. Head
elevation alone does not address vena cava compression, increased sodium is not recommended during
pregnancy, and abdominal binders do not effectively prevent supine hypotension.
Maternity HESI V1 — 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 3 of {TOTAL}
