HESI OB MATERNITY VERSION 2 EXAM SCRIPT
2026 SOLVED PRACTICE SET
◉ A mother who is HIV-positive delivers a full-term newborn and
asks the nurse if her baby will become HIV-infected. Which
explanation should the nurse provide?
A.Most infants of HIV-positive women will continue to test positive
for HIV antibodies.
B.Infants who have HIV-positive mothers carry the virus and will
eventually develop the disease.
C.Medication taken during pregnancy to reduce the mother's viral
load ensures that the infant is HIV-negative.
D.HIV infection is determined at 18 months of age, when maternal
HIV antibodies are no longer present.. Answer: D.HIV infection is
determined at 18 months of age, when maternal HIV antibodies are
no longer present.
Rationale: All newborns of HIV-positive mothers receive passive HIV
antibodies from the mother, so the evaluation of an infant for the
HIV virus is determined at 18 months of age, when all the maternal
,antibodies are no longer in the infant's blood. Passive HIV antibodies
disappear in the infant within 18 months of age. Option B is
inaccurate. Although administration of HIV medication during
pregnancy can significantly reduce the risk of vertical transmission,
treatment does not ensure that the virus will not become manifest in
the infant.
◉ A new mother is having trouble breastfeeding her newborn. The
child is making frantic rooting motions and will not grasp the nipple.
Which intervention should the nurse implement?
A.Encourage frequent use of a pacifier so that the infant becomes
accustomed to sucking.
B.Hold the infant's head firmly against the breast until he latches
onto the nipple.
C.Encourage the mother to stop feeding for a few minutes and
comfort the infant.
D.Provide formula for the infant until he becomes calm, and then
offer the breast again.. Answer: C.Encourage the mother to stop
feeding for a few minutes and comfort the infant.
,Rationale: The infant is becoming frustrated and so is the mother;
both need a time out. The mother should be encouraged to comfort
the infant and to relax herself. After such a time out, breastfeeding is
often more successful. Options A and D would cause nipple
confusion. Option B would only cause the infant to be more resistant,
resulting in the mother and infant becoming more frustrated.
◉ A client who delivered a healthy infant 5 days ago calls the clinic
nurse and reports that her lochia is getting lighter in color. Which
action should the nurse take?
A.Instruct the client to go to the emergency room.
B.Recommend vaginal douching.
C.Explain this is a normal finding.
D.Determine if ovulation has occurred.. Answer: C.Explain this is a
normal finding.
Rationale:The client is describing lochia serosa, a normal change in
the lochial flow. Options A, B, and D are not recommended for this
normal finding.
, ◉ A client at 30 weeks of gestation is on bed rest at home because of
increased blood pressure. The home health nurse has taught her
how to take her own blood pressure and gave her parameters to
judge a significant increase in blood pressure. When the client calls
the clinic complaining of indigestion, which instruction should the
nurse provide?
A.Lie on your left side and call 911 for emergency assistance.
B.Take an antacid and call back if the pain has not subsided.
C.Take your blood pressure now, and if it is seriously elevated, go to
the hospital.
D.See your health care provider to obtain a prescription for a
histamine blocking agent.. Answer: C.Take your blood pressure now,
and if it is seriously elevated, go to the hospital.
Rationale: Checking the blood pressure for an elevation is the best
instruction to give at this time. A blood pressure exceeding 140/90
mm Hg is indicative of preeclampsia. Epigastric pain can be a sign of
an impending seizure (eclampsia), a life-threatening complication of
gestational hypertension. Additional data are needed to confirm an
emergency situation as described in option A. Options B and D
ignore the threat to client safety posed by a significant increase in
blood pressure.
2026 SOLVED PRACTICE SET
◉ A mother who is HIV-positive delivers a full-term newborn and
asks the nurse if her baby will become HIV-infected. Which
explanation should the nurse provide?
A.Most infants of HIV-positive women will continue to test positive
for HIV antibodies.
B.Infants who have HIV-positive mothers carry the virus and will
eventually develop the disease.
C.Medication taken during pregnancy to reduce the mother's viral
load ensures that the infant is HIV-negative.
D.HIV infection is determined at 18 months of age, when maternal
HIV antibodies are no longer present.. Answer: D.HIV infection is
determined at 18 months of age, when maternal HIV antibodies are
no longer present.
Rationale: All newborns of HIV-positive mothers receive passive HIV
antibodies from the mother, so the evaluation of an infant for the
HIV virus is determined at 18 months of age, when all the maternal
,antibodies are no longer in the infant's blood. Passive HIV antibodies
disappear in the infant within 18 months of age. Option B is
inaccurate. Although administration of HIV medication during
pregnancy can significantly reduce the risk of vertical transmission,
treatment does not ensure that the virus will not become manifest in
the infant.
◉ A new mother is having trouble breastfeeding her newborn. The
child is making frantic rooting motions and will not grasp the nipple.
Which intervention should the nurse implement?
A.Encourage frequent use of a pacifier so that the infant becomes
accustomed to sucking.
B.Hold the infant's head firmly against the breast until he latches
onto the nipple.
C.Encourage the mother to stop feeding for a few minutes and
comfort the infant.
D.Provide formula for the infant until he becomes calm, and then
offer the breast again.. Answer: C.Encourage the mother to stop
feeding for a few minutes and comfort the infant.
,Rationale: The infant is becoming frustrated and so is the mother;
both need a time out. The mother should be encouraged to comfort
the infant and to relax herself. After such a time out, breastfeeding is
often more successful. Options A and D would cause nipple
confusion. Option B would only cause the infant to be more resistant,
resulting in the mother and infant becoming more frustrated.
◉ A client who delivered a healthy infant 5 days ago calls the clinic
nurse and reports that her lochia is getting lighter in color. Which
action should the nurse take?
A.Instruct the client to go to the emergency room.
B.Recommend vaginal douching.
C.Explain this is a normal finding.
D.Determine if ovulation has occurred.. Answer: C.Explain this is a
normal finding.
Rationale:The client is describing lochia serosa, a normal change in
the lochial flow. Options A, B, and D are not recommended for this
normal finding.
, ◉ A client at 30 weeks of gestation is on bed rest at home because of
increased blood pressure. The home health nurse has taught her
how to take her own blood pressure and gave her parameters to
judge a significant increase in blood pressure. When the client calls
the clinic complaining of indigestion, which instruction should the
nurse provide?
A.Lie on your left side and call 911 for emergency assistance.
B.Take an antacid and call back if the pain has not subsided.
C.Take your blood pressure now, and if it is seriously elevated, go to
the hospital.
D.See your health care provider to obtain a prescription for a
histamine blocking agent.. Answer: C.Take your blood pressure now,
and if it is seriously elevated, go to the hospital.
Rationale: Checking the blood pressure for an elevation is the best
instruction to give at this time. A blood pressure exceeding 140/90
mm Hg is indicative of preeclampsia. Epigastric pain can be a sign of
an impending seizure (eclampsia), a life-threatening complication of
gestational hypertension. Additional data are needed to confirm an
emergency situation as described in option A. Options B and D
ignore the threat to client safety posed by a significant increase in
blood pressure.
