NCC EFM Practice Questions
Which of the following factors can have a negative effect on uterine blood flow?
a. Hypertension
b. Epidural
c. Hemorrhage
d. Diabetes
e. All of the above - e. All of the above
Stimulating the vagus nerve typically produces:
a. A decrease in the heart rate
b. An increase in the heart rate
c. An increase in stroke volume
d. No change - a. A decrease in the heart rate
The vagus nerve begins maturation 26 to 28 weeks. Its dominance results in what effect to
the FHR baseline?
a. Increases baseline
b. Decreases baseline - b. Decreases baseline
T/F: The most common artifact with the ultrasound transducer system for fetal heart rate
is increased variability. - True
T/F: All fetal monitors contain a logic system designed to reject artifact. - True
T/F: Fetal arrhythmias can be seen on both internal and external monitor tracings. - True
T/F: Variability and periodic changes can be detected with both internal and external
monitoring. - True
T/F: Variable decelerations are a vagal response. - True
T/F: Variable decelerations are the most frequently seen fetal heart rate deceleration
pattern in labor. - True
Etiology of a baseline FHR of 165bpm occurring for the last hour can be:
1. Maternal supine hypotension
2. Maternal fever
3. Maternal dehydration
4. Unknown
a. 1 and 2
b. 1, 2 and 3
c. 2, 3 and 4 - c. 2, 3 and 4
,The most prevalent risk factor associated with fetal death before the onset of labor is:
a. Low socioeconomic status
b. Fetal malpresentation
c. Uteroplacental insufficiency
d. Uterine anomalies - c. Uteroplacental insufficiency
Which of the following conditions is not an indication for antepartum fetal surveillance?
a. Gestational hypertension
b. Diabetes in pregnancy
c. Fetus in breech presentation
d. Decreased fetal movement - c. Fetus in breech presentation
Which of the following does not affect the degree of fetal activity?
a. Vibroacoustic stimulation
b. Smoking
c. Fetal position
d. Gestational age - a. Vibroacoustic stimulation
T/F: Umbilical cord influences that can alter blood flow include true knots, hematomas, and
number of umbilical vessels. - True
T/F: Low amplitude contractions are not an early sign of preterm labor. - False
T/F: Corticosteroid administration may cause an increase in FHR accelerations. - False
T/F: Corticosteroid administration may cause an increase in FHR. - True
T/F: Contractions cause an increase in uterine venous pressure and a decrease in uterine
artery perfusion. - True
As a result of the intrinsic fetal response to oxygen deprivation, increased catecholamine
levels cause the peripheral blood flow to decrease while the blood flow to vital organs
increases. These flow changes along with increased catecholamine secretions have what
effect on fetal blood pressure and fetal heart rate?
A. Increase BP and increase HR
B. Increase BP and decrease HR
C. Decrease BP and increase HR
D. Decrease BP and decrease HR - B. Increase BP and decrease HR
During a term antepartum NST (non-stress test), you notice several variable decelerations
that decrease at least 15 bpm and last at least 15 sec long. Which of the following is the
least likely explanation?
A. True knot
B. Gestational diabetes
C. Umbilical cord entanglement
D. Oligohydramnios - B. Gestational diabetes
, All of the following are likely causes of prolonged decelerations except:
A. Uterine tachysystole
B. Prolapsed cord
C. Maternal hypotension
D. Maternal fever - D. Maternal fever
All of the following could likely cause minimal variability in FHR except
A. Magnesium sulfate administration
B. Fetal sleep cycle
C. Narcotic administration
D. Ephedrine administration - D. Ephedrine administration
When an IUPC has been placed, Montevideo units must be ___ or greater for adequate
cervical change to occur.
A. 100
B. 200
C. 300
D. 400 - B. 200
What would be a suspected pH in a fetus whose FHTs included recurrent late decelerations
during labor?
A. 7.10
B. 7.26
C. 7.32
D. 7.41 - A. 7.10
The nurse notes a pattern of decelerations on the fetal monitor that begins shortly after the
contraction and returns to baseline just before the contraction is over. The correct nursing
response is to:
a. Give the woman oxygen by facemask at 8-10 L/min
b. Position the woman on her opposite side
c. Increase the rate of the woman's intravenous fluid
d. Continue to observe and record the normal pattern - d. Continue to observe and record
the normal pattern
Determining the FHR baseline requires the nurse to approximate the mean FHR rounded to
increments of 5 bpm during a ___-minute window (excluding accelerations and
decelerations).
A. 2
B. 5
C. 10
D. 20 - C. 10
Which of the following interventions would best stimulate an acceleration in the FHR?
A. Provide juice to patient
Which of the following factors can have a negative effect on uterine blood flow?
a. Hypertension
b. Epidural
c. Hemorrhage
d. Diabetes
e. All of the above - e. All of the above
Stimulating the vagus nerve typically produces:
a. A decrease in the heart rate
b. An increase in the heart rate
c. An increase in stroke volume
d. No change - a. A decrease in the heart rate
The vagus nerve begins maturation 26 to 28 weeks. Its dominance results in what effect to
the FHR baseline?
a. Increases baseline
b. Decreases baseline - b. Decreases baseline
T/F: The most common artifact with the ultrasound transducer system for fetal heart rate
is increased variability. - True
T/F: All fetal monitors contain a logic system designed to reject artifact. - True
T/F: Fetal arrhythmias can be seen on both internal and external monitor tracings. - True
T/F: Variability and periodic changes can be detected with both internal and external
monitoring. - True
T/F: Variable decelerations are a vagal response. - True
T/F: Variable decelerations are the most frequently seen fetal heart rate deceleration
pattern in labor. - True
Etiology of a baseline FHR of 165bpm occurring for the last hour can be:
1. Maternal supine hypotension
2. Maternal fever
3. Maternal dehydration
4. Unknown
a. 1 and 2
b. 1, 2 and 3
c. 2, 3 and 4 - c. 2, 3 and 4
,The most prevalent risk factor associated with fetal death before the onset of labor is:
a. Low socioeconomic status
b. Fetal malpresentation
c. Uteroplacental insufficiency
d. Uterine anomalies - c. Uteroplacental insufficiency
Which of the following conditions is not an indication for antepartum fetal surveillance?
a. Gestational hypertension
b. Diabetes in pregnancy
c. Fetus in breech presentation
d. Decreased fetal movement - c. Fetus in breech presentation
Which of the following does not affect the degree of fetal activity?
a. Vibroacoustic stimulation
b. Smoking
c. Fetal position
d. Gestational age - a. Vibroacoustic stimulation
T/F: Umbilical cord influences that can alter blood flow include true knots, hematomas, and
number of umbilical vessels. - True
T/F: Low amplitude contractions are not an early sign of preterm labor. - False
T/F: Corticosteroid administration may cause an increase in FHR accelerations. - False
T/F: Corticosteroid administration may cause an increase in FHR. - True
T/F: Contractions cause an increase in uterine venous pressure and a decrease in uterine
artery perfusion. - True
As a result of the intrinsic fetal response to oxygen deprivation, increased catecholamine
levels cause the peripheral blood flow to decrease while the blood flow to vital organs
increases. These flow changes along with increased catecholamine secretions have what
effect on fetal blood pressure and fetal heart rate?
A. Increase BP and increase HR
B. Increase BP and decrease HR
C. Decrease BP and increase HR
D. Decrease BP and decrease HR - B. Increase BP and decrease HR
During a term antepartum NST (non-stress test), you notice several variable decelerations
that decrease at least 15 bpm and last at least 15 sec long. Which of the following is the
least likely explanation?
A. True knot
B. Gestational diabetes
C. Umbilical cord entanglement
D. Oligohydramnios - B. Gestational diabetes
, All of the following are likely causes of prolonged decelerations except:
A. Uterine tachysystole
B. Prolapsed cord
C. Maternal hypotension
D. Maternal fever - D. Maternal fever
All of the following could likely cause minimal variability in FHR except
A. Magnesium sulfate administration
B. Fetal sleep cycle
C. Narcotic administration
D. Ephedrine administration - D. Ephedrine administration
When an IUPC has been placed, Montevideo units must be ___ or greater for adequate
cervical change to occur.
A. 100
B. 200
C. 300
D. 400 - B. 200
What would be a suspected pH in a fetus whose FHTs included recurrent late decelerations
during labor?
A. 7.10
B. 7.26
C. 7.32
D. 7.41 - A. 7.10
The nurse notes a pattern of decelerations on the fetal monitor that begins shortly after the
contraction and returns to baseline just before the contraction is over. The correct nursing
response is to:
a. Give the woman oxygen by facemask at 8-10 L/min
b. Position the woman on her opposite side
c. Increase the rate of the woman's intravenous fluid
d. Continue to observe and record the normal pattern - d. Continue to observe and record
the normal pattern
Determining the FHR baseline requires the nurse to approximate the mean FHR rounded to
increments of 5 bpm during a ___-minute window (excluding accelerations and
decelerations).
A. 2
B. 5
C. 10
D. 20 - C. 10
Which of the following interventions would best stimulate an acceleration in the FHR?
A. Provide juice to patient
