Page 1 of 33
31 May 2026
HESI OB/Maternity 2026/2027 Latest PREP EXAM with
150 Questions and Correct Answers WITH DETAILED
EXPLANATIONS/ OB HESI Maternity Exam COVERING
RECENT AND MOST TESTED QUESTIONS A+ GRADE
ASSURED
Twenty minutes after a continuous epidural anesthetic is administered, a laboring client's blood
pressure drops from 120/80 to 90/60. What action will the nurse take?
A. Notify the healthcare provider or anesthesiologist immediately
B. Continue to assess the blood pressure q5 minutes
C. Place the woman in a lateral position
D. Turn off the continuous epidural - correct answer-C. Place the woman in a lateral position
These symptoms are suggestive of hypotension which is a side effect of epidural anesthesia. Raising
the foot of the bed will increase venous return and provide blood to the vital areas. Increasing the IV
fluid rate using a balanced non-dextrose solution and ensuring that the client is in a lateral position
are also appropriate interventions, and then checking the patients blood pressure.
A newborn infant is brought to the nursery from the birthing suite. The nurse notices that the
infant is breathing satisfactorily but appears dusky. What action should the nurse take first?
A. Notify the pediatrician immediately
B. Suction the infant's nares, then the oral cavity
C. Check the infant's oxygen saturation rate
D. Position the infant on the right side - correct answer-C. Check the infant's oxygen saturation rate
When possible, the nurse should first obtain measurable objective data; an oxygen saturation rate
provides such information.
FYI. The pediatrician should be notified if the oxygen saturation rate is below 90%
The nurse is teaching breastfeeding to prospective parents in a childbirth education class. Which
instruction should the nurse include as content in the class?
A. Begin as soon as your baby is born to establish a four-hour feeding schedule
B. Resting helps with milk production. Ask that your baby be fed at night in the nursery
C. Feed your baby every 2 to 3 hours or on demand, whichever comes first
D. Do not allow your baby to nurse any longer than the prescribed number of minutes - correct
answer-C. Feed your baby every 2 to 3 hours or on demand, whichever comes first
, Page 2 of 33
31 May 2026
Breastfeeding infants should be kept in the room with the mother and fed every 2 to 3 hours or on
demand--whichever comes first.
The healthcare provider prescribes terbutaline (Brethine) for a client in preterm labor. Before
initiating this prescription, it is most important for the nurse to assess the client for which
condition?
A. Gestational diabetes
B. Elevated blood pressure
C. Urinary tract infection
D. Swelling in lower extremities - correct answer-A. Gestational diabetes
The nurse should evaluate the client for gestational diabetes because terbutaline (Brethine)
increases blood glucose levels.
A client with NO prenatal care arrives at the labor unit screaming, "The baby is coming!" The nurse
performs a vaginal examination that reveals the cervix is 3 centimeters dilated and 75% effaced.
What additional information is most important for the nurse to obtain?
A. Gravidity and parity
B. Time and amount of last oral intake
C. Date of last normal menstrual period
D. Frequency and intensity of contractions - correct answer-C. Date of last normal menstrual period
Evaluating the gestation of the pregnancy takes priority. If the fetus is preterm and the fetal heart
pattern is reassuring, the healthcare provider may attempt to prolong the pregnancy and administer
corticosteroids to mature the lungs of the fetus.
The nurse assesses a client admitted to the labor and delivery unit and obtains the following data:
dark red vaginal bleeding, uterus slightly tense between contractions, BP 110/68, FHR 110
beats/minute, cervix 1 cm dilated and uneffaced. Based on these assessment findings, what
intervention should the nurse implement?
A. Insert an internal fetal monitor
B. Assess for cervical changes q1h
C. Monitor bleeding from IV sites
D. Perform Leopold's maneuvers - correct answer-C. Monitor bleeding from IV sites
Monitoring bleeding from peripheral sites is the priority intervention. This client is presenting with
signs of placental abruption. Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a complication of
placental abruptio, characterized by abnormal bleeding.
, Page 3 of 33
31 May 2026
Immediately after birth a newborn infant is suctioned, dried, and placed under a radiant warmer.
The infant has spontaneous respirations and the nurse assesses an apical heart rate of 80
beats/minute and respirations of 20 breaths/minute. What action should the nurse perform next?
A. Initiate positive pressure ventilation
B. Intervene after the one minute Apgar is assessed
C. Initiate CPR on the infant
D. Assess the infant's blood glucose level - correct answer-A. Initiate positive pressure ventilation
The nurse should immediately begin positive pressure ventilation because this infant's vital signs are
not within the normal range, and oxygen deprivation leads to cardiac depression in infants. (The
normal newborn pulse is 100 to 160 beats/minute and respirations are 40 to 60 breaths/minute.)
The nurse is preparing to give an enema to a laboring client. Which client requires the most caution
when carrying out this procedure?
A. A gravida 6. para 5 who is 38 years of age and in early labor
B. A 37-week primigravida who presents at 100% effacement, 3 cm dilatation, and a -1 station
C. A gravida 2, para 1 who is at 1 cm cervical dilatation and a 0 station admitted for induction of
labor due to post dates
D. A 40-week primigravida who is at 6 cm cervical dilatation and the presenting part is not engaged -
correct answer-D. A 40-week primigravida who is at 6 cm cervical dilatation and the presenting part
is not engaged
When the presenting part is ballottable, it is floating out of the pelvis. In such a situation, the cord
can descend before the fetus causing a prolapsed cord, which is an emergency situation.
The nurse is providing discharge teaching for a client who is 24 hours postpartum. The nurse
explains to the client that her vaginal discharge will change from red to pink and then to white.
The client asks, "What if I start having red bleeding AFTER it changes?" What should the nurse
instruct the client to do?
A. Reduce activity level and notify the healthcare provider
B. Go to bed and assume a knee-chest position
C. Massage the uterus and go to the emergency room
D. Do not worry as this is a normal occurance - correct answer-A. Reduce activity level and notify
the healthcare provider
Lochia should progress in stages from rubra (red) to serosa (pinkish) to alba (whitish), and not return
to red. The return to rubra usually indicates subinvolution or infection. If such a sign occurs, the
mother should notify the clinic/healthcare provider and reduce her activity to conserve energy
, Page 4 of 33
31 May 2026
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?
A. Give the medication as prescribed and monitor for efficacy
B. Encourage the client to breastfeed rather than bottle feed
C. Have the client empty her bladder and massage the fundus
D. Call the healthcare provider to question the prescription - correct answer-D. Call the healthcare
provider to question the prescription
Methergine is contraindicated for clients with elevated blood pressure, so the nurse should contact
the healthcare provider and question the prescription
A client at 32-weeks gestation is diagnosed with preeclampsia. Which assessment finding is most
indicative of an impending convulsion?
A. 3+ deep tendon reflexes
B. Periorbital edema
C. Epigastric pain
D. Decreased urine output - correct answer-C. Epigastric pain
Epigastric pain is indicative of an edematour liver or pancreas which is an early warning sign of an
impending convulsion (eclampsia) and requires immediate attention
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?
A. "Which symptom did you experience first?"
B. "Are you eating large amounts of salty foods?"
C. "Have you visited a foreign country recently?"
D. "Do you have a history of rheumatic fever?" - correct answer-D. "Do you have a history of
rheumatic fever?"
Clients with a history of rheumatic fever 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.
31 May 2026
HESI OB/Maternity 2026/2027 Latest PREP EXAM with
150 Questions and Correct Answers WITH DETAILED
EXPLANATIONS/ OB HESI Maternity Exam COVERING
RECENT AND MOST TESTED QUESTIONS A+ GRADE
ASSURED
Twenty minutes after a continuous epidural anesthetic is administered, a laboring client's blood
pressure drops from 120/80 to 90/60. What action will the nurse take?
A. Notify the healthcare provider or anesthesiologist immediately
B. Continue to assess the blood pressure q5 minutes
C. Place the woman in a lateral position
D. Turn off the continuous epidural - correct answer-C. Place the woman in a lateral position
These symptoms are suggestive of hypotension which is a side effect of epidural anesthesia. Raising
the foot of the bed will increase venous return and provide blood to the vital areas. Increasing the IV
fluid rate using a balanced non-dextrose solution and ensuring that the client is in a lateral position
are also appropriate interventions, and then checking the patients blood pressure.
A newborn infant is brought to the nursery from the birthing suite. The nurse notices that the
infant is breathing satisfactorily but appears dusky. What action should the nurse take first?
A. Notify the pediatrician immediately
B. Suction the infant's nares, then the oral cavity
C. Check the infant's oxygen saturation rate
D. Position the infant on the right side - correct answer-C. Check the infant's oxygen saturation rate
When possible, the nurse should first obtain measurable objective data; an oxygen saturation rate
provides such information.
FYI. The pediatrician should be notified if the oxygen saturation rate is below 90%
The nurse is teaching breastfeeding to prospective parents in a childbirth education class. Which
instruction should the nurse include as content in the class?
A. Begin as soon as your baby is born to establish a four-hour feeding schedule
B. Resting helps with milk production. Ask that your baby be fed at night in the nursery
C. Feed your baby every 2 to 3 hours or on demand, whichever comes first
D. Do not allow your baby to nurse any longer than the prescribed number of minutes - correct
answer-C. Feed your baby every 2 to 3 hours or on demand, whichever comes first
, Page 2 of 33
31 May 2026
Breastfeeding infants should be kept in the room with the mother and fed every 2 to 3 hours or on
demand--whichever comes first.
The healthcare provider prescribes terbutaline (Brethine) for a client in preterm labor. Before
initiating this prescription, it is most important for the nurse to assess the client for which
condition?
A. Gestational diabetes
B. Elevated blood pressure
C. Urinary tract infection
D. Swelling in lower extremities - correct answer-A. Gestational diabetes
The nurse should evaluate the client for gestational diabetes because terbutaline (Brethine)
increases blood glucose levels.
A client with NO prenatal care arrives at the labor unit screaming, "The baby is coming!" The nurse
performs a vaginal examination that reveals the cervix is 3 centimeters dilated and 75% effaced.
What additional information is most important for the nurse to obtain?
A. Gravidity and parity
B. Time and amount of last oral intake
C. Date of last normal menstrual period
D. Frequency and intensity of contractions - correct answer-C. Date of last normal menstrual period
Evaluating the gestation of the pregnancy takes priority. If the fetus is preterm and the fetal heart
pattern is reassuring, the healthcare provider may attempt to prolong the pregnancy and administer
corticosteroids to mature the lungs of the fetus.
The nurse assesses a client admitted to the labor and delivery unit and obtains the following data:
dark red vaginal bleeding, uterus slightly tense between contractions, BP 110/68, FHR 110
beats/minute, cervix 1 cm dilated and uneffaced. Based on these assessment findings, what
intervention should the nurse implement?
A. Insert an internal fetal monitor
B. Assess for cervical changes q1h
C. Monitor bleeding from IV sites
D. Perform Leopold's maneuvers - correct answer-C. Monitor bleeding from IV sites
Monitoring bleeding from peripheral sites is the priority intervention. This client is presenting with
signs of placental abruption. Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a complication of
placental abruptio, characterized by abnormal bleeding.
, Page 3 of 33
31 May 2026
Immediately after birth a newborn infant is suctioned, dried, and placed under a radiant warmer.
The infant has spontaneous respirations and the nurse assesses an apical heart rate of 80
beats/minute and respirations of 20 breaths/minute. What action should the nurse perform next?
A. Initiate positive pressure ventilation
B. Intervene after the one minute Apgar is assessed
C. Initiate CPR on the infant
D. Assess the infant's blood glucose level - correct answer-A. Initiate positive pressure ventilation
The nurse should immediately begin positive pressure ventilation because this infant's vital signs are
not within the normal range, and oxygen deprivation leads to cardiac depression in infants. (The
normal newborn pulse is 100 to 160 beats/minute and respirations are 40 to 60 breaths/minute.)
The nurse is preparing to give an enema to a laboring client. Which client requires the most caution
when carrying out this procedure?
A. A gravida 6. para 5 who is 38 years of age and in early labor
B. A 37-week primigravida who presents at 100% effacement, 3 cm dilatation, and a -1 station
C. A gravida 2, para 1 who is at 1 cm cervical dilatation and a 0 station admitted for induction of
labor due to post dates
D. A 40-week primigravida who is at 6 cm cervical dilatation and the presenting part is not engaged -
correct answer-D. A 40-week primigravida who is at 6 cm cervical dilatation and the presenting part
is not engaged
When the presenting part is ballottable, it is floating out of the pelvis. In such a situation, the cord
can descend before the fetus causing a prolapsed cord, which is an emergency situation.
The nurse is providing discharge teaching for a client who is 24 hours postpartum. The nurse
explains to the client that her vaginal discharge will change from red to pink and then to white.
The client asks, "What if I start having red bleeding AFTER it changes?" What should the nurse
instruct the client to do?
A. Reduce activity level and notify the healthcare provider
B. Go to bed and assume a knee-chest position
C. Massage the uterus and go to the emergency room
D. Do not worry as this is a normal occurance - correct answer-A. Reduce activity level and notify
the healthcare provider
Lochia should progress in stages from rubra (red) to serosa (pinkish) to alba (whitish), and not return
to red. The return to rubra usually indicates subinvolution or infection. If such a sign occurs, the
mother should notify the clinic/healthcare provider and reduce her activity to conserve energy
, Page 4 of 33
31 May 2026
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?
A. Give the medication as prescribed and monitor for efficacy
B. Encourage the client to breastfeed rather than bottle feed
C. Have the client empty her bladder and massage the fundus
D. Call the healthcare provider to question the prescription - correct answer-D. Call the healthcare
provider to question the prescription
Methergine is contraindicated for clients with elevated blood pressure, so the nurse should contact
the healthcare provider and question the prescription
A client at 32-weeks gestation is diagnosed with preeclampsia. Which assessment finding is most
indicative of an impending convulsion?
A. 3+ deep tendon reflexes
B. Periorbital edema
C. Epigastric pain
D. Decreased urine output - correct answer-C. Epigastric pain
Epigastric pain is indicative of an edematour liver or pancreas which is an early warning sign of an
impending convulsion (eclampsia) and requires immediate attention
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?
A. "Which symptom did you experience first?"
B. "Are you eating large amounts of salty foods?"
C. "Have you visited a foreign country recently?"
D. "Do you have a history of rheumatic fever?" - correct answer-D. "Do you have a history of
rheumatic fever?"
Clients with a history of rheumatic fever 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.
