HESI OB MATERNITY EXAM ACTUAL EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED VERIFIED
ANSWERS/A+ GRADE ASSURED
1. A postpartum patient was in labor for 30 hours and had ruptured
membranes for 24 hours. For which of the following would the nurse be
alert?
o A. Endometritis
o B. Endometriosis
o C. Salpingitis
o D. Pelvic thrombophlebitis
Answer
Correct Answer: A. Endometritis
Endometritis is an infection of the uterine lining and can occur after
prolonged rupture of membranes. Symptoms include swelling of the
abdomen, abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge, fever, discomfort with
bowel movement, and pain in the lower abdomen or pelvic region.
• Option B: Endometriosis does not occur after a strong labor
and prolonged rupture of membranes. It is a painful disorder
in which tissue similar to the tissue that normally lines the
inside of the uterus grows outside of the uterus.
• Option C: Salpingitis is a tubal infection and could occur if
endometritis is not treated. It is an inflammation of the
fallopian tubes caused by bacterial infection.
• Option D: Pelvic thrombophlebitis involves a clot formation,
but it is not a complication of prolonged rupture of
membranes. It is an extremely rare condition that occurs after
delivery when an infected blood clot, or thrombus, causes
inflammation in the pelvic vein.
2. 2. Question
1 point(s)
A client at 36 weeks gestation is scheduled for a routine ultrasound prior to
amniocentesis. After teaching the client about the purpose of the
, ultrasound, which of the following client statements would indicate to the
nurse in charge that the client needs further instruction?
o A. The ultrasound will help to locate the placenta.
o B. The ultrasound identifies blood flow through the umbilical
cord.
o C. The test will determine where to insert the needle.
o D. The ultrasound locates a pool of amniotic fluid.
ANSWER
Correct Answer: B. The ultrasound identifies blood flow through the
umbilical cord.
Before amniocentesis, a routine ultrasound is valuable in locating the
placenta, locating a pool of amniotic fluid, and showing the physician
where to insert the needle. Color Doppler imaging ultrasonography
identifies blood flow through the umbilical cord. A routine ultrasound does
not accomplish this.
• Option A: As early as 10 weeks, the placenta can be detected
by an ultrasound. The normal placenta is discoid with uniform
echogenicity and rounded margins. It is usually located along
the anterior or posterior uterine walls, extending into the
lateral walls.
• Option C: Ultrasound is done before and during
amniocentesis to ensure that the needle can safely pass
through the walls of the abdomen and womb.
• Option D: The sample of amniotic fluid is removed through a
fine needle inserted into the uterus through the abdomen,
under ultrasound guidance.
3. 3. Question
1 point(s)
While the postpartum client is receiving heparin for thrombophlebitis,
which of the following drugs would the nurse expect to administer if the
client develops complications related to heparin therapy?
o A. Calcium gluconate
o B. Protamine sulfate
, o C. Methylergonovine (Methergine)
o D. Nitrofurantoin (Macrodantin)
Answer
Correct Answer: B. Protamine sulfate
Protamine sulfate is a heparin antagonist given intravenously to counteract
bleeding complications caused by heparin overdose.
• Option A: Calcium gluconate is the calcium salt of gluconic
acid, an intravenous medication used to treat conditions
arising from calcium deficiencies such as hypocalcemic tetany
and hypocalcemia.
• Option C: Methylergonovine is used to prevent or treat
bleeding from the uterus that can happen after childbirth or
an abortion.
• Option D: Nitrofurantoin is used to treat urinary tract
infections. It is an antibiotic that works by killing bacteria that
cause infection.
4. 4. Question
1 point(s)
When caring for a 3-day-old neonate who is receiving phototherapy to
treat jaundice, the nurse in charge would expect to do which of the
following?
o A. Turn the neonate every 6 hours
o B. Encourage the mother to discontinue breastfeeding.
o C. Notify the physician if the skin becomes bronze in color.
o D. Check the vital signs every 2 to 4 hours.
Answer
Correct Answer: D. Check the vital signs every 2 to 4 hours
While caring for an infant receiving phototherapy for treatment of jaundice,
vital signs are checked every 2 to 4 hours because hyperthermia can occur
due to the phototherapy lights.
• Option A: Only one study reported the significance drop in
serum bilirubin and shorter duration of phototherapy in the
supine group. Keeping the jaundiced newborn in the supine
, position throughout phototherapy is as effective as turning
them periodically based on appraised studies.
• Option B: The baby may be breastfed without interruption
during phototherapy. Jaundice in breastfed babies is not a
reason to stop breastfeeding as long as a baby is feeding well,
gaining weight, and otherwise growing.
• Option C: Bronze baby syndrome is a rare complication seen
in neonates with hyperbilirubinemia who are being treated
with phototherapy. Affected neonates develop gray-brown
skin, serum, and urine within a week of initiation of
phototherapy.
5. 5. Question
1 point(s)
A primigravida in active labor is about 9 days post-term. The client desires
a bilateral pudendal block anesthesia before delivery. After the nurse
explains this type of anesthesia to the client, which of the following
locations identified by the client as the area of relief would indicate to the
nurse that the teaching was effective?
o A. Back
o B. Abdomen
o C. Fundus
o D. Perineum
Answer
Correct Answer: D. Perineum
A bilateral pudendal block is used for vaginal deliveries to relieve pain
primarily in the perineum and vagina. Pudendal block anesthesia is
adequate for episiotomy and its repair.
• Option A: A spinal anesthetic is given into the middle of the
lower back and local anesthetic is injected through the needle
into the fluid that surrounds the spinal cord. It numbs the
nerves that supply the abdomen, hips, bottom, and legs.
• Option B: General or regional anesthesia can be appropriate
for patients undergoing abdominal surgery. Balanced
anesthesia with inhalational anesthetics, opioids, and
QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED VERIFIED
ANSWERS/A+ GRADE ASSURED
1. A postpartum patient was in labor for 30 hours and had ruptured
membranes for 24 hours. For which of the following would the nurse be
alert?
o A. Endometritis
o B. Endometriosis
o C. Salpingitis
o D. Pelvic thrombophlebitis
Answer
Correct Answer: A. Endometritis
Endometritis is an infection of the uterine lining and can occur after
prolonged rupture of membranes. Symptoms include swelling of the
abdomen, abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge, fever, discomfort with
bowel movement, and pain in the lower abdomen or pelvic region.
• Option B: Endometriosis does not occur after a strong labor
and prolonged rupture of membranes. It is a painful disorder
in which tissue similar to the tissue that normally lines the
inside of the uterus grows outside of the uterus.
• Option C: Salpingitis is a tubal infection and could occur if
endometritis is not treated. It is an inflammation of the
fallopian tubes caused by bacterial infection.
• Option D: Pelvic thrombophlebitis involves a clot formation,
but it is not a complication of prolonged rupture of
membranes. It is an extremely rare condition that occurs after
delivery when an infected blood clot, or thrombus, causes
inflammation in the pelvic vein.
2. 2. Question
1 point(s)
A client at 36 weeks gestation is scheduled for a routine ultrasound prior to
amniocentesis. After teaching the client about the purpose of the
, ultrasound, which of the following client statements would indicate to the
nurse in charge that the client needs further instruction?
o A. The ultrasound will help to locate the placenta.
o B. The ultrasound identifies blood flow through the umbilical
cord.
o C. The test will determine where to insert the needle.
o D. The ultrasound locates a pool of amniotic fluid.
ANSWER
Correct Answer: B. The ultrasound identifies blood flow through the
umbilical cord.
Before amniocentesis, a routine ultrasound is valuable in locating the
placenta, locating a pool of amniotic fluid, and showing the physician
where to insert the needle. Color Doppler imaging ultrasonography
identifies blood flow through the umbilical cord. A routine ultrasound does
not accomplish this.
• Option A: As early as 10 weeks, the placenta can be detected
by an ultrasound. The normal placenta is discoid with uniform
echogenicity and rounded margins. It is usually located along
the anterior or posterior uterine walls, extending into the
lateral walls.
• Option C: Ultrasound is done before and during
amniocentesis to ensure that the needle can safely pass
through the walls of the abdomen and womb.
• Option D: The sample of amniotic fluid is removed through a
fine needle inserted into the uterus through the abdomen,
under ultrasound guidance.
3. 3. Question
1 point(s)
While the postpartum client is receiving heparin for thrombophlebitis,
which of the following drugs would the nurse expect to administer if the
client develops complications related to heparin therapy?
o A. Calcium gluconate
o B. Protamine sulfate
, o C. Methylergonovine (Methergine)
o D. Nitrofurantoin (Macrodantin)
Answer
Correct Answer: B. Protamine sulfate
Protamine sulfate is a heparin antagonist given intravenously to counteract
bleeding complications caused by heparin overdose.
• Option A: Calcium gluconate is the calcium salt of gluconic
acid, an intravenous medication used to treat conditions
arising from calcium deficiencies such as hypocalcemic tetany
and hypocalcemia.
• Option C: Methylergonovine is used to prevent or treat
bleeding from the uterus that can happen after childbirth or
an abortion.
• Option D: Nitrofurantoin is used to treat urinary tract
infections. It is an antibiotic that works by killing bacteria that
cause infection.
4. 4. Question
1 point(s)
When caring for a 3-day-old neonate who is receiving phototherapy to
treat jaundice, the nurse in charge would expect to do which of the
following?
o A. Turn the neonate every 6 hours
o B. Encourage the mother to discontinue breastfeeding.
o C. Notify the physician if the skin becomes bronze in color.
o D. Check the vital signs every 2 to 4 hours.
Answer
Correct Answer: D. Check the vital signs every 2 to 4 hours
While caring for an infant receiving phototherapy for treatment of jaundice,
vital signs are checked every 2 to 4 hours because hyperthermia can occur
due to the phototherapy lights.
• Option A: Only one study reported the significance drop in
serum bilirubin and shorter duration of phototherapy in the
supine group. Keeping the jaundiced newborn in the supine
, position throughout phototherapy is as effective as turning
them periodically based on appraised studies.
• Option B: The baby may be breastfed without interruption
during phototherapy. Jaundice in breastfed babies is not a
reason to stop breastfeeding as long as a baby is feeding well,
gaining weight, and otherwise growing.
• Option C: Bronze baby syndrome is a rare complication seen
in neonates with hyperbilirubinemia who are being treated
with phototherapy. Affected neonates develop gray-brown
skin, serum, and urine within a week of initiation of
phototherapy.
5. 5. Question
1 point(s)
A primigravida in active labor is about 9 days post-term. The client desires
a bilateral pudendal block anesthesia before delivery. After the nurse
explains this type of anesthesia to the client, which of the following
locations identified by the client as the area of relief would indicate to the
nurse that the teaching was effective?
o A. Back
o B. Abdomen
o C. Fundus
o D. Perineum
Answer
Correct Answer: D. Perineum
A bilateral pudendal block is used for vaginal deliveries to relieve pain
primarily in the perineum and vagina. Pudendal block anesthesia is
adequate for episiotomy and its repair.
• Option A: A spinal anesthetic is given into the middle of the
lower back and local anesthetic is injected through the needle
into the fluid that surrounds the spinal cord. It numbs the
nerves that supply the abdomen, hips, bottom, and legs.
• Option B: General or regional anesthesia can be appropriate
for patients undergoing abdominal surgery. Balanced
anesthesia with inhalational anesthetics, opioids, and
