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HESI A2 Exit Exam Maternity Questions Comprehensive
2026 Questions Exam Latest Version Solved Questions &
Answers Verified 100 %
The nurse is counseling a couple who has sought information about
conceiving. For teaching purposes, the nurses should know that ovulation
usually occurs
a. two weeks before menstruation
b. immediately after menstruation
c. immediately before menstruation
d. three weeks before menstruation
a. two weeks before menstruation
A client who has an autosomal dominant inherited disorder is exploring family
planning options and the risk of transmission of the disorder to an infant. The
nurses's response should be based on what information?
a. males inherit the disorder with a greater frequency than females
b. each pregnancy carries a 50% chance of inheriting the disorder
c. the disorder occurs in 25% of pregnancies
d. all children will be carriers of the disorder
b. each pregnancy carries 50% chance of inheriting the disorder
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
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a. yellowish tinge to the skin
A woman who had a miscarriage 6 months ago becomes pregnant. Which
instruction is most important for the nurse to provide this client?
a. elevate lower legs while resting
b. increase caloric intake by 200 to 300 calories per day
c. increase water intake to 8 full glasses per day
d. take prescribed multivitamin and mineral supplements
d. take prescribed multivitamin and mineral supplements
Which assessment finding should the nursery nurse report to the pediatric
healthcare provider?
a. blood glucose level of 45
b. blood pressure of 82/45
c. non-bulging anterior fontanel
d. central cyanosis when crying
d. central cyanosis when crying
A 28 year old client in active labor complains of cramps in her leg. What
intervention should the nurse implement?
a. massage the calf and foot
b. extend the leg and dorsiflex the foot
c. lower the leg off the side of the bed
d. elevate the leg above the heart
b. extend the leg and dorsiflex the foot
A new mother asks the nurse "How do I know that my daughter is getting
enough breast milk?" Which explanation should the nurse provide?
a. weigh 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
c. offer the baby extra bottle milk after her feeding and see if she is still hungry
d. if you're concerned you might consider bottle feeding so that you can
monitor her intake
b. your milk is sufficient if the bay is voiding pale straw-colored urine 6 to 10 times a
day
On admission to the prenatal clinic, a 23 year old woman tells the nurse that
her last menstrual period began on February 15 that previously her periods
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were regular. Her pregnancy test is positive. This client's expected date of
delivery
a. November 22
b. November 8
c. December 22
d. October 22
a. November 22
An off-duty finds a woman in a supermarket parking lot delivering an infant
while her husband is screaming for someone to help his wife. Which
intervention has the highest priority?
a. provide as much privacy as possible for the woman
b. use a thread to tie off the umbilical cord
c. put the newborn to breast
d. reassure the husband and try to keep him calm
c. put the newborn to breast
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. a higher rate of congenital abnormalities
b. respiratory distres
c. lower birth weights
d. lower APGAR scores
c. lower birth weights
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. that is normal the head will return to a round shape within 7 to 10 days
c. it may look funny to you but newborn babies are often born with heads like
your baby's
d. your pelvis was too small so the baby's head had to adjust to the birth canal
b. that is normal the head will return to a round shape within 7 to 10 days
After each feeding, a 3 day old newborn is spitting up large amounts of
newborn formula, a nonfat cow's milk formula. The pediatric healthcare
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provider changes the neonates's formula to Similac. What information should
the nurse provide to the mother about the newly prescribed formula?
a. Enfamil formula is demineralized whey formula that is needed with diarrhea
b. The new formula is a coconut milk formula used with babies with impaired
fat absorption
c. the new formula is a casein protein source that is low in phenylalanine
d. similac is a soy based formula that contains sucrose
d. similac is a soy based formula that contains sucrose
A client who is attending antepartum classes asks the nurse why her
healthcare provider has prescribed iron tablets. The nurse's response is based
on what knowledge?
a. iron absorption is decreased in the GI tract during pregnancy
b. it is difficult to consume 18 mg of additional iron by diet alone
c. iron is needed to prevent megaloblastic anemia in the last trimester
d. supplementary iron is more efficiently utilized during pregnancy
b. it is difficult to consume 18 mg of additional iron by diet alone
When explaining postpartum blues to a client who is 1 day postpartum, which
symptoms should the nurse include in the teaching plan? (select all that apply)
a. panic attacks
b. tearfulness
c. decreased need for sleep
d. mood swings
e. disinterest in the infant
b, d
The nurse observes a new mother avoiding eye contact with her newborn.
Which action should the nurse take?
a. recognize this is a common reaction in new mothers
b. ask the mother why she won't look at the infant
c. observe the mother for other attachment behaviors
d. examine the newborn's eyes for the ability to focus
c. observe the mother for other attachment behaviors
A couple concerned because the woman has not been able to conceive is
referred to a HCP for a fertility workup and a hysterosalpingography is
scheduled. Which postprocedure complaint indicates that the fallopian tubes
HESI A2 Exit Exam Maternity Questions Comprehensive
2026 Questions Exam Latest Version Solved Questions &
Answers Verified 100 %
The nurse is counseling a couple who has sought information about
conceiving. For teaching purposes, the nurses should know that ovulation
usually occurs
a. two weeks before menstruation
b. immediately after menstruation
c. immediately before menstruation
d. three weeks before menstruation
a. two weeks before menstruation
A client who has an autosomal dominant inherited disorder is exploring family
planning options and the risk of transmission of the disorder to an infant. The
nurses's response should be based on what information?
a. males inherit the disorder with a greater frequency than females
b. each pregnancy carries a 50% chance of inheriting the disorder
c. the disorder occurs in 25% of pregnancies
d. all children will be carriers of the disorder
b. each pregnancy carries 50% chance of inheriting the disorder
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
, Page 2 of 46
a. yellowish tinge to the skin
A woman who had a miscarriage 6 months ago becomes pregnant. Which
instruction is most important for the nurse to provide this client?
a. elevate lower legs while resting
b. increase caloric intake by 200 to 300 calories per day
c. increase water intake to 8 full glasses per day
d. take prescribed multivitamin and mineral supplements
d. take prescribed multivitamin and mineral supplements
Which assessment finding should the nursery nurse report to the pediatric
healthcare provider?
a. blood glucose level of 45
b. blood pressure of 82/45
c. non-bulging anterior fontanel
d. central cyanosis when crying
d. central cyanosis when crying
A 28 year old client in active labor complains of cramps in her leg. What
intervention should the nurse implement?
a. massage the calf and foot
b. extend the leg and dorsiflex the foot
c. lower the leg off the side of the bed
d. elevate the leg above the heart
b. extend the leg and dorsiflex the foot
A new mother asks the nurse "How do I know that my daughter is getting
enough breast milk?" Which explanation should the nurse provide?
a. weigh 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
c. offer the baby extra bottle milk after her feeding and see if she is still hungry
d. if you're concerned you might consider bottle feeding so that you can
monitor her intake
b. your milk is sufficient if the bay is voiding pale straw-colored urine 6 to 10 times a
day
On admission to the prenatal clinic, a 23 year old woman tells the nurse that
her last menstrual period began on February 15 that previously her periods
, Page 3 of 46
were regular. Her pregnancy test is positive. This client's expected date of
delivery
a. November 22
b. November 8
c. December 22
d. October 22
a. November 22
An off-duty finds a woman in a supermarket parking lot delivering an infant
while her husband is screaming for someone to help his wife. Which
intervention has the highest priority?
a. provide as much privacy as possible for the woman
b. use a thread to tie off the umbilical cord
c. put the newborn to breast
d. reassure the husband and try to keep him calm
c. put the newborn to breast
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. a higher rate of congenital abnormalities
b. respiratory distres
c. lower birth weights
d. lower APGAR scores
c. lower birth weights
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. that is normal the head will return to a round shape within 7 to 10 days
c. it may look funny to you but newborn babies are often born with heads like
your baby's
d. your pelvis was too small so the baby's head had to adjust to the birth canal
b. that is normal the head will return to a round shape within 7 to 10 days
After each feeding, a 3 day old newborn is spitting up large amounts of
newborn formula, a nonfat cow's milk formula. The pediatric healthcare
, Page 4 of 46
provider changes the neonates's formula to Similac. What information should
the nurse provide to the mother about the newly prescribed formula?
a. Enfamil formula is demineralized whey formula that is needed with diarrhea
b. The new formula is a coconut milk formula used with babies with impaired
fat absorption
c. the new formula is a casein protein source that is low in phenylalanine
d. similac is a soy based formula that contains sucrose
d. similac is a soy based formula that contains sucrose
A client who is attending antepartum classes asks the nurse why her
healthcare provider has prescribed iron tablets. The nurse's response is based
on what knowledge?
a. iron absorption is decreased in the GI tract during pregnancy
b. it is difficult to consume 18 mg of additional iron by diet alone
c. iron is needed to prevent megaloblastic anemia in the last trimester
d. supplementary iron is more efficiently utilized during pregnancy
b. it is difficult to consume 18 mg of additional iron by diet alone
When explaining postpartum blues to a client who is 1 day postpartum, which
symptoms should the nurse include in the teaching plan? (select all that apply)
a. panic attacks
b. tearfulness
c. decreased need for sleep
d. mood swings
e. disinterest in the infant
b, d
The nurse observes a new mother avoiding eye contact with her newborn.
Which action should the nurse take?
a. recognize this is a common reaction in new mothers
b. ask the mother why she won't look at the infant
c. observe the mother for other attachment behaviors
d. examine the newborn's eyes for the ability to focus
c. observe the mother for other attachment behaviors
A couple concerned because the woman has not been able to conceive is
referred to a HCP for a fertility workup and a hysterosalpingography is
scheduled. Which postprocedure complaint indicates that the fallopian tubes
