HESI A2 Exit Exam Maternity Practice Exam 55 answers exam GRADED A+ QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS 100% VERIFIED 2025-2026
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?
a.Dehydration.
b.Hyperstimulation.
c. Galactorrhea.
d.Fetal tachycardia.
b.Hyperstimulation.
While breastfeeding, a new mother strokes the top of her baby's head and asks
the nurse about the baby's swollen scalp. The nurse responds that the
swelling is caput succedaneum. Which additional information should the
nurse provide this new mother?
a.The infant should be positioned to reduce the swelling.
b.The swelling is a subperiosteal collection of blood.
c.The pediatrician will aspirate the blood if it gets larger.
d.The scalp edema will subside in a few days after birth.
d.The scalp edema will subside in a few days after birth.
The nurse observes a new mother avoiding eye contact with her newborn.
Which action should the nurse take?
a.Ask the mother why she won't look at the infant.
b.Observe the mother for other attachment behaviors.
c.Examine the newborn's eyes for the ability to focus.
d.Recognize this as a common reaction in new mothers.
b.Observe the mother for other attachment behaviors.
,A 23-year-old client who is receiving Medicaid benefits is pregnant with her
first child. Based on knowledge of the statistics related to infant mortality,
which plan should the nurse implement with this client?
a.Refer the client to a social worker to arrange for home care.
b.Recommend perinatal care from an obstetrician, not a nurse-midwife.
c.Teach the client why keeping prenatal care appointments is important.
d.Advise the client that neonatal intensive care may be needed.
c.Teach the client why keeping prenatal care appointments is important.
tells the nurse that she want to have an uncomplicated pregnancy and a
healthy baby. What information should the nurse share with the client?
a.Your current dose of Insulin should be maintained throughout your
pregnancy.
b.Maintain blood sugar levels in a constant range within normal limits during
pregnancy.
c.The course and outcome of your pregnancy is not an achievable goal with
diabetes.
d.Expect an increase in insulin dosages by 5 units/week during the first
trimester.
b.Maintain blood sugar levels in a constant range within normal limits during
pregnancy.
At 14-weeks gestation, a client arrives at the Emergency Center complaining of
a dull pain in the right lower quadrant of her abdomen. The nurse obtains a
blood sample and initiates an IV. Thirty minutes after admission, the client
reports feeling a sharp abdominal pain and a shoulder pain. Assessment
findings include diaphoresis, a heart rate of 120 beats/minute, and a blood
pressure of 86/48. Which action should the nurse implement next?
a. Check the hematocrit results.
b. Administer pain medication.
c. Increase the rate of IV fluids.
d. Monitor client for contractions.
c. increase the rate of IV fluids
A woman who thinks she could be pregnant calls her neighbor, a nurse, to ask
wen she could use a home pregnancy test to diagnose pregnancy. Which
response is best?
,a. a home pregnancy test can be used right after your first missed period
b. these tests are most accurate after you have missed your second period
c. home pregnancy tests often give false positives and should not be trusted
d. the test can provide accurate information when used right after ovulation
a. a home pregnancy test can be used right after your first missed period
A newborn, whose mother is HIV positive, is scheduled for follow-up
assessments. The nurse knows that the most likely presenting symptom for a
pediatric client with AIDS is:
a. shortness of breath
b. joint pain
c. a persistent cold
d. organmegaly
c. a persistent cold
Twenty minutes after a continuous epidural anesthetic is administered, a
laboring client's blood pressure drops from 120/80 to 90/60. What action
should the nurse take?
a. notify the healthcare provider or anesthesiologist
b. continue to assess the blood pressure q5min
c. place the woman in a lateral position
d. turn off continuous epidural
c. place the woman in a lateral position
In developing a teaching plan for expectant parents, the nurse plans to include
information about when the parents can expect the infant's fontanels to close.
The nurse bases the explanation on knowledge that for the normal newborn,
the
a. anterior fontanel closes at 2 to 4 months and the posterior by the end of the
first week
b. anterior fontanel closes at 5 to 7 months and the posterior by the end of the
week
c. anterior fontanel closes at 8 to 11 months and the posterior by the end of
the second week
d. anterior fontanel closes at 12 to 18 months and the posterior by the end of
the second month
, d. anterior fontanel closes at 12 to 18 months and the posterior by the end of the
second month
A client in active labor is admitted with preeclampsia. Which assessment
finding is most significant in planning this client's care?
a. patellar reflex 4+
b. blood pressure 158/80
c. four hour urine output 240 ml
d. respiration 12/minute
a. patellar reflex 4+
A 4 week old premature infant has been receiving epoetin alfa for the last three
weeks. Which assessment finding indicates to the nurse that the drug is
effective?
a. slowly increasing urine output over the last week
b. respiratory rate changes from the 40s to the 60s
c. changes in apical heart rate from the 180 to the 140s
d. change in indirect bilirubin from 12 mg/dl to 8 mg/dl
c. changes in apical rate from the 180s to the 140s
A pregnant client tells the nurse that the first day of her last menstrual period
was August 2, 2006. Based on Nagele's rule, what is the estimated date of
delivery?
a. April 25, 2007
b. May 9, 2007
c. May 29, 2007
d. June 2, 2007
b. May 9, 2007
The nurse is performing a AGA on a full-term newborn during the first hour of
transition using the Dubowitz scale. Based on this assessment, the nurse
determines that the neonate has a maturity rating of 40 weeks. Which findings
should the nurse identify to determine if the neonate is SGA? (Select all that
apply.)
a. admission weight of 4 lbs 15 oz
b. head to heel length of 17 in
c. frontal occipital circumference of 12.5 in
d. skin smooth with visible veins and abundant vernix
AND CORRECT ANSWERS 100% VERIFIED 2025-2026
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?
a.Dehydration.
b.Hyperstimulation.
c. Galactorrhea.
d.Fetal tachycardia.
b.Hyperstimulation.
While breastfeeding, a new mother strokes the top of her baby's head and asks
the nurse about the baby's swollen scalp. The nurse responds that the
swelling is caput succedaneum. Which additional information should the
nurse provide this new mother?
a.The infant should be positioned to reduce the swelling.
b.The swelling is a subperiosteal collection of blood.
c.The pediatrician will aspirate the blood if it gets larger.
d.The scalp edema will subside in a few days after birth.
d.The scalp edema will subside in a few days after birth.
The nurse observes a new mother avoiding eye contact with her newborn.
Which action should the nurse take?
a.Ask the mother why she won't look at the infant.
b.Observe the mother for other attachment behaviors.
c.Examine the newborn's eyes for the ability to focus.
d.Recognize this as a common reaction in new mothers.
b.Observe the mother for other attachment behaviors.
,A 23-year-old client who is receiving Medicaid benefits is pregnant with her
first child. Based on knowledge of the statistics related to infant mortality,
which plan should the nurse implement with this client?
a.Refer the client to a social worker to arrange for home care.
b.Recommend perinatal care from an obstetrician, not a nurse-midwife.
c.Teach the client why keeping prenatal care appointments is important.
d.Advise the client that neonatal intensive care may be needed.
c.Teach the client why keeping prenatal care appointments is important.
tells the nurse that she want to have an uncomplicated pregnancy and a
healthy baby. What information should the nurse share with the client?
a.Your current dose of Insulin should be maintained throughout your
pregnancy.
b.Maintain blood sugar levels in a constant range within normal limits during
pregnancy.
c.The course and outcome of your pregnancy is not an achievable goal with
diabetes.
d.Expect an increase in insulin dosages by 5 units/week during the first
trimester.
b.Maintain blood sugar levels in a constant range within normal limits during
pregnancy.
At 14-weeks gestation, a client arrives at the Emergency Center complaining of
a dull pain in the right lower quadrant of her abdomen. The nurse obtains a
blood sample and initiates an IV. Thirty minutes after admission, the client
reports feeling a sharp abdominal pain and a shoulder pain. Assessment
findings include diaphoresis, a heart rate of 120 beats/minute, and a blood
pressure of 86/48. Which action should the nurse implement next?
a. Check the hematocrit results.
b. Administer pain medication.
c. Increase the rate of IV fluids.
d. Monitor client for contractions.
c. increase the rate of IV fluids
A woman who thinks she could be pregnant calls her neighbor, a nurse, to ask
wen she could use a home pregnancy test to diagnose pregnancy. Which
response is best?
,a. a home pregnancy test can be used right after your first missed period
b. these tests are most accurate after you have missed your second period
c. home pregnancy tests often give false positives and should not be trusted
d. the test can provide accurate information when used right after ovulation
a. a home pregnancy test can be used right after your first missed period
A newborn, whose mother is HIV positive, is scheduled for follow-up
assessments. The nurse knows that the most likely presenting symptom for a
pediatric client with AIDS is:
a. shortness of breath
b. joint pain
c. a persistent cold
d. organmegaly
c. a persistent cold
Twenty minutes after a continuous epidural anesthetic is administered, a
laboring client's blood pressure drops from 120/80 to 90/60. What action
should the nurse take?
a. notify the healthcare provider or anesthesiologist
b. continue to assess the blood pressure q5min
c. place the woman in a lateral position
d. turn off continuous epidural
c. place the woman in a lateral position
In developing a teaching plan for expectant parents, the nurse plans to include
information about when the parents can expect the infant's fontanels to close.
The nurse bases the explanation on knowledge that for the normal newborn,
the
a. anterior fontanel closes at 2 to 4 months and the posterior by the end of the
first week
b. anterior fontanel closes at 5 to 7 months and the posterior by the end of the
week
c. anterior fontanel closes at 8 to 11 months and the posterior by the end of
the second week
d. anterior fontanel closes at 12 to 18 months and the posterior by the end of
the second month
, d. anterior fontanel closes at 12 to 18 months and the posterior by the end of the
second month
A client in active labor is admitted with preeclampsia. Which assessment
finding is most significant in planning this client's care?
a. patellar reflex 4+
b. blood pressure 158/80
c. four hour urine output 240 ml
d. respiration 12/minute
a. patellar reflex 4+
A 4 week old premature infant has been receiving epoetin alfa for the last three
weeks. Which assessment finding indicates to the nurse that the drug is
effective?
a. slowly increasing urine output over the last week
b. respiratory rate changes from the 40s to the 60s
c. changes in apical heart rate from the 180 to the 140s
d. change in indirect bilirubin from 12 mg/dl to 8 mg/dl
c. changes in apical rate from the 180s to the 140s
A pregnant client tells the nurse that the first day of her last menstrual period
was August 2, 2006. Based on Nagele's rule, what is the estimated date of
delivery?
a. April 25, 2007
b. May 9, 2007
c. May 29, 2007
d. June 2, 2007
b. May 9, 2007
The nurse is performing a AGA on a full-term newborn during the first hour of
transition using the Dubowitz scale. Based on this assessment, the nurse
determines that the neonate has a maturity rating of 40 weeks. Which findings
should the nurse identify to determine if the neonate is SGA? (Select all that
apply.)
a. admission weight of 4 lbs 15 oz
b. head to heel length of 17 in
c. frontal occipital circumference of 12.5 in
d. skin smooth with visible veins and abundant vernix
