HESI OB MATERNITY VERSION ONE FINAL
PAPER 2026 DETAILED SOLUTIONS
GUARANTEED A+
⩥ The nurse should explain to a 30-year-old gravid client that alpha
fetoprotein testing is recommended for which purpose? Answer: Screen
for neural tube defects.
⩥ What action should the nurse implement to decrease the client's risk
for hemorrhage after a cesarean section? Answer: Check the firmness of
the uterus every 15 minutes.
⩥ The nurse attempts to help an unmarried teenager deal with her
feelings following a spontaneous abortion at 8-weeks gestation. What
type of emotional response should the nurse anticipate? Answer: Grief
related to her perceptions about the loss of this child.
⩥ 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? Answer: Yellowish tinge to the skin.
⩥ When assessing a client who is at 12-weeks gestation, the nurse
recommends that she and her husband consider attending childbirth
preparation classes. When is the best time for the couple to attend these
classes? Answer: At 30-weeks gestation is closest to the time parents
,would be ready for such classes. Learning is facilitated by an interested
pupil! The couple is most interested in childbirth toward the end of the
pregnancy when they are psychologically ready for the termination of
the pregnancy, and the birth of their child is an immediate concern.
⩥ A client at 32-weeks gestation is diagnosed with preeclampsia. Which
assessment finding is most indicative of an impending convulsion?
Answer: Epigastric pain (C) is indicative of an edematous liver or
pancreas which is an early warning sign of an impending convulsion
(eclampsia) and requires immediate attention.
⩥ 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? Answer: Onset of uterine contractions.
⩥ A client who is in the second trimester of pregnancy tells the nurse
that she wants to use herbal therapy. Which response is best for the nurse
to provide? Answer: It is important that you want to take part in your
care.
⩥ A couple, concerned because the woman has not been able to
conceive, is referred to a healthcare provider for a fertility workup and a
hysterosalpingography is scheduled. Which postprocedure complaint
indicates that the fallopian tubes are patent? Answer: If the tubes are
patent (open), pain is referred to the shoulder (C) from a
subdiaphragmatic collection of peritoneal dye/gas.
,⩥ A client who delivered an infant an hour ago tells the nurse that she
feels wet underneath her buttock. The nurse notes that both perineal pads
are completely saturated and the client is lying in a 6-inch diameter pool
of blood. Which action should the nurse implement next? Answer:
Palpate the firmness of the fundus.
⩥ One hour after giving birth to an 8-pound infant, a client's lochia rubra
has increased from small to large and her fundus is boggy despite
massage. The client's pulse is 84 beats/minute and blood pressure is
156/96. The healthcare provider prescribes Methergine 0.2 mg IM × 1.
What action should the nurse take immediately? Answer: Methergine is
contraindicated for clients with elevated blood pressure, so the nurse
should contact the healthcare provider and question the prescription (D).
⩥ A client at 32-weeks gestation comes to the prenatal clinic with
complaints of pedal edema, dyspnea, fatigue, and a moist cough. Which
question is most important for the nurse to ask this client? Answer: Do
you have a history of rheumatic fever? Clients with a history of
rheumatic fever (D) may develop mitral valve prolapse, which increases
the risk for cardiac decompensation due to the increased blood volume
that occurs during pregnancy, so obtaining information about this client's
health history is a priority.
⩥ A primigravida at 40-weeks gestation is receiving oxytocin (Pitocin)
to augment labor. Which adverse effect should the nurse monitor for
during the infusion of Pitocin? Answer: Pitocin causes the uterine
myofibril to contract, so unless the infusion is closely monitored, the
, client is at risk for hyperstimulation (B) which can lead to tetanic
contractions, uterine rupture, and fetal distress or demise.
⩥ A 35-year-old primigravida client with severe preeclampsia is
receiving magnesium sulfate via continuous IV infusion. Which
assessment data indicates to the nurse that the client is experiencing
magnesium sulfate toxicity? Answer: Urine output 90 ml/4 hours. Urine
outputs of less than 100 ml/4 hours (D), absent DTRs, and a respiratory
rate of less than 12 breaths/minute are cardinal signs of magnesium
sulfate toxicity.
⩥ The nurse is planning preconception care for a new female client.
Which information should the nurse provide the client? Answer:
Encourage healthy lifestyles for families desiring pregnancy. Planning
for pregnancy begins with healthy lifestyles in the family (D) which is
an intervention in preconception care that targets an overall goal for a
client preparing for pregnancy.
⩥ A multigravida client at 41-weeks gestation presents in the labor and
delivery unit after a non-stress test indicated that the fetus is
experiencing some difficulties in utero. Which diagnostic test should the
nurse prepare the client for additional information about fetal status?
Answer: Biophysical profile (BPP). BPP (A) provides data regarding
fetal risk surveillance by examining 5 areas: fetal breathing movements,
fetal movements, amniotic fluid volume, and fetal tone and heart rate.
PAPER 2026 DETAILED SOLUTIONS
GUARANTEED A+
⩥ The nurse should explain to a 30-year-old gravid client that alpha
fetoprotein testing is recommended for which purpose? Answer: Screen
for neural tube defects.
⩥ What action should the nurse implement to decrease the client's risk
for hemorrhage after a cesarean section? Answer: Check the firmness of
the uterus every 15 minutes.
⩥ The nurse attempts to help an unmarried teenager deal with her
feelings following a spontaneous abortion at 8-weeks gestation. What
type of emotional response should the nurse anticipate? Answer: Grief
related to her perceptions about the loss of this child.
⩥ 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? Answer: Yellowish tinge to the skin.
⩥ When assessing a client who is at 12-weeks gestation, the nurse
recommends that she and her husband consider attending childbirth
preparation classes. When is the best time for the couple to attend these
classes? Answer: At 30-weeks gestation is closest to the time parents
,would be ready for such classes. Learning is facilitated by an interested
pupil! The couple is most interested in childbirth toward the end of the
pregnancy when they are psychologically ready for the termination of
the pregnancy, and the birth of their child is an immediate concern.
⩥ A client at 32-weeks gestation is diagnosed with preeclampsia. Which
assessment finding is most indicative of an impending convulsion?
Answer: Epigastric pain (C) is indicative of an edematous liver or
pancreas which is an early warning sign of an impending convulsion
(eclampsia) and requires immediate attention.
⩥ 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? Answer: Onset of uterine contractions.
⩥ A client who is in the second trimester of pregnancy tells the nurse
that she wants to use herbal therapy. Which response is best for the nurse
to provide? Answer: It is important that you want to take part in your
care.
⩥ A couple, concerned because the woman has not been able to
conceive, is referred to a healthcare provider for a fertility workup and a
hysterosalpingography is scheduled. Which postprocedure complaint
indicates that the fallopian tubes are patent? Answer: If the tubes are
patent (open), pain is referred to the shoulder (C) from a
subdiaphragmatic collection of peritoneal dye/gas.
,⩥ A client who delivered an infant an hour ago tells the nurse that she
feels wet underneath her buttock. The nurse notes that both perineal pads
are completely saturated and the client is lying in a 6-inch diameter pool
of blood. Which action should the nurse implement next? Answer:
Palpate the firmness of the fundus.
⩥ One hour after giving birth to an 8-pound infant, a client's lochia rubra
has increased from small to large and her fundus is boggy despite
massage. The client's pulse is 84 beats/minute and blood pressure is
156/96. The healthcare provider prescribes Methergine 0.2 mg IM × 1.
What action should the nurse take immediately? Answer: Methergine is
contraindicated for clients with elevated blood pressure, so the nurse
should contact the healthcare provider and question the prescription (D).
⩥ A client at 32-weeks gestation comes to the prenatal clinic with
complaints of pedal edema, dyspnea, fatigue, and a moist cough. Which
question is most important for the nurse to ask this client? Answer: Do
you have a history of rheumatic fever? Clients with a history of
rheumatic fever (D) may develop mitral valve prolapse, which increases
the risk for cardiac decompensation due to the increased blood volume
that occurs during pregnancy, so obtaining information about this client's
health history is a priority.
⩥ A primigravida at 40-weeks gestation is receiving oxytocin (Pitocin)
to augment labor. Which adverse effect should the nurse monitor for
during the infusion of Pitocin? Answer: Pitocin causes the uterine
myofibril to contract, so unless the infusion is closely monitored, the
, client is at risk for hyperstimulation (B) which can lead to tetanic
contractions, uterine rupture, and fetal distress or demise.
⩥ A 35-year-old primigravida client with severe preeclampsia is
receiving magnesium sulfate via continuous IV infusion. Which
assessment data indicates to the nurse that the client is experiencing
magnesium sulfate toxicity? Answer: Urine output 90 ml/4 hours. Urine
outputs of less than 100 ml/4 hours (D), absent DTRs, and a respiratory
rate of less than 12 breaths/minute are cardinal signs of magnesium
sulfate toxicity.
⩥ The nurse is planning preconception care for a new female client.
Which information should the nurse provide the client? Answer:
Encourage healthy lifestyles for families desiring pregnancy. Planning
for pregnancy begins with healthy lifestyles in the family (D) which is
an intervention in preconception care that targets an overall goal for a
client preparing for pregnancy.
⩥ A multigravida client at 41-weeks gestation presents in the labor and
delivery unit after a non-stress test indicated that the fetus is
experiencing some difficulties in utero. Which diagnostic test should the
nurse prepare the client for additional information about fetal status?
Answer: Biophysical profile (BPP). BPP (A) provides data regarding
fetal risk surveillance by examining 5 areas: fetal breathing movements,
fetal movements, amniotic fluid volume, and fetal tone and heart rate.
