Download NCC EFM Exam 2026/2027: Fetal Monitoring & Obstetric Q&A Mastery and more Exams Nursing in PDF only on Docsity!
NCC EFM Certification Exam Questions with
Correct Verified Answers Latest Update
(2026/2027) Guaranteed Pass
What is your first intervention in management of a patient experiencing variable decelerations? a. Immediate delivery b. Change maternal position c. No treatment indicated d. Oxygen e. Stop oxytocin infusion correct answer b. Change maternal position Etiology of a baseline FHR of 165bpm occurring for the last hour can be:
- Maternal supine hypotension
- Maternal fever
- Maternal dehydration
- Unknown a. 1 and 2 b. 1, 2 and 3 c. 2, 3 and 4 correct answer c. 2, 3 and 4 What is the most probable cause of recurrent late decelerations? a. Utero-placental insufficiency
b. Head compression c. Cord compression d. Maternal position change correct answer a. Utero-placental insufficiency 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 correct answer c. Uteroplacental insufficiency Which of the following is NOT used for antepartum fetal surveillance? a. Fetal movement counting b. Antepartum fetal heart rate testing c. Biophysical profile testing d. Maternal HCG levels correct answer d. Maternal HCG levels 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 correct answer c. Fetus in breech presentation Which of the following does not affect the degree of fetal activity? a. Vibroacoustic stimulation
b. Ultrasound assessment of fetal movement c. Ultrasound assessment of amniotic fluid volume d. Fetal movement counts correct answer c. Ultrasound assessment of amniotic fluid volume For a contraction stress test to be interpretable, you must have a minimum of: a. 5 contractions in a 10-minute window b. 3 contractions in a 10-minute window c. 4 contractions in a 10-minute window d. 2 contractions in a 10-minute window correct answer b. 3 contractions in a 10 minute window A negative contraction stress test is one in which: a. No contractions are seen b. There are late decelerations with > 50% of the contractions seen c. There are no fetal heart rate late decelerations with the contractions d. There is one fetal heart rate deceleration seen correct answer c. There are no fetal heart rate late decelerations with the contractions According to AWHONN, the normal baseline Fetal Heart Rate (FHR) is A. 90-150 bpm B. 100-170 bpm C. 110-160 bpm D. 120-140 bpm correct answer C. 110-160 bpm What are the two most important characteristics of the FHR?
A. Rate and decelerations B. Variability and accelerations C. Variability and decelerations D. Rate and variability correct answer B. Variability and accelerations You recognize that an FHR tracing has been showing a decrease in variability for the last 45 minutes. Your first intervention should be to A. Encourage ambulation B. Administer oxygen C. Discontinue IV fluids D. Increase Pitocin rate correct answer B. Administer oxygen Resuscitation measures improves the baby's variability, but the FHR is still not reactive. You attempt fetal scalp stimulation (FSE) because you know that a well- oxygenated fetus will respond to FSE with a(n) A. Acceleration B. Deceleration C. Fetal movement D. Sleep pattern correct answer A. Acceleration You are evaluating a patient in the Prenatal Testing Department who has just completed a biophysical profile (BPP). You suspect that there could be chronic fetal asphyxia because the score is below A. 10 B. 6 C. 8 correct answer B. 6
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 correct answer B. Increase BP and decrease HR All of the following might indicate a pseudosinusoidal pattern as opposed to a sinusoidal pattern, except: A. Recent administration of narcotics to mother B. Accelerations in FHR C. Moderate variability D. Frequency of oscillations of two to five cycles/min correct answer D. Frequency of oscillations of two to five cycles/min All of the following are appropriate interventions for fetal tachycardia except: A. Increase maternal IV fluid rate B. Assess maternal vital signs C. Perform SVE D. Administer oxygen correct answer C. Perform SVE 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 correct answer 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 correct answer D. Maternal fever _______ decelerations occur with less than 50% of contractions. A. Recurrent B. Intermittent C. Repetitive correct answer B. Intermittent _______ decelerations occur with greater than or equal to 50% of contractions. A. Recurrent B. Intermittent C. Repetitive correct answer A. Recurrent 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 correct answer D. Ephedrine administration
A. Prolapsed cord B. Rh incompatibility C. Recurrent late decelerations D. Oligohydramnios correct answer B. Rh incompatibility Before ___ weeks of gestation, an increase in FHR that peaks at least 10 bpm above the baseline and lasts at least 10 seconds is considered an acceleration. A. 28 B. 30 C. 32 D. 36 correct answer C. 32 The expected response of the fetal heart rate to active fetal movement of a 31- week gestational age fetus is: a. Suppression of normal short term variability for 15 seconds b. Acceleration of at least 15 beats per minute for 15 seconds c. Acceleration followed by a 15-second deceleration of the heart rate d. Acceleration of at least 10 beats per minute for 10 seconds correct answer d. Acceleration of at least 10 beats per minute for 10 seconds The nurse notes a pattern of variable decelerations to 75 bpm on the fetal monitor. The initial nursing action is to: a. Reposition the woman b. Administer oxygen c. Increase the intravenous fluid infusion d. Stimulate the fetal scalp correct answer a. Reposition the woman
The tocotransducer should be placed: a. In the suprapubic area b. In the fundal area c. Over the xiphoid process d. Within the uterus correct answer b. In the fundal area 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 correct answer 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 correct answer C. 10 Uterine tachysystole is observed when there are A. 5 or more contractions in 10 min B. 6 or more contractions in 10 min
B. Newborn condition at time of delivery C. Fetal acid-base abnormalities D. Fetal intrauterine growth correct answer C. Fetal acid-base abnormalities Which of the following is not an intervention that should be implemented in a patient with uterine tachysystole? A. Administer terbutaline B. Increase IV fluid rate C. Decrease or discontinue IV oxytocin D. Prepare patient for cesarean section correct answer D. Prepare patient for cesarean section Which of the following is most effective in determining the strength of a patient's contractions? A. Patient report B. Tocodynanamometer tracing C. RN palpation D. Sterile vaginal exam during a contraction correct answer C. RN palpation The FHR is controlled by the A. Sympathetic nervous system B. Sinoatrial node C. Atrioventricular node D. Parasympathetic nervous system correct answer B. Sinoatrial node How do baseline heart rates differ in premature fetuses?
A. They are often lower B. They are often higher C. They are less likely to have decelerations D. They experience longer accelerations correct answer B. They are often higher T/F: If etiology of fetal tachycardia is secondary to extrauterine infection, FHR will return to normal as maternal fever resolves. correct answer True T/F: Fetal tachycardia is a normal compensatory response to transient fetal hypoxemia. correct answer True Fetal heart rate bradycardia is defined as A. FHR <110bpm lasting 10 min or greater B. FHR <110bpm lasting 2 min or greater C. FHR <110bpm lasting 20 min or greater correct answer A. FHR <110bpm lasting 10 min or greater _______ variability warrants cesarean section delivery. A. Minimal B. Moderate C. Marked D. Absent correct answer D. Absent At how many weeks gestation should FHR variability be normal in manner? A. 24 weeks B. 28 weeks
- Prepare for cesarean delivery
- Place patient in lateral position
- Determine if pattern is related to narcotic analgesic administration
- Provide oxygen via face mask A. 4, 2, 3, 1 B. 3, 1, 2, 4 C. 4, 3, 2, 1 D. 3, 2, 4, 1 correct answer D. 3, 2, 4, 1 The _____ is the source of all fetal oxygenation. A. Placenta B. Umbilical cord C. Mother D. Amniotic fluid correct answer C. Mother FHTs with recurrent variable decelerations, no accelerations, and minimal variability would be categorized as A. Category I B. Category II C. Category III correct answer B. Category II FHTs with absent variability and bradycardia would be categorized as A. Category I B. Category II C. Category III correct answer C. Category III
FHTs with moderate variability, no accelerations, and early decelerations would be categorized as A. Category I B. Category II C. Category III correct answer A. Category I FHTs with accelerations, no decelerations, and minimal variability would be categorized as A. Category I B. Category II C. Category III correct answer B. Category II Sinusoidal pattern is categorized as A. Category I B. Category II C. Category III correct answer B. Category III FHTs with absent variability and no accelerations or decelerations would be categorized as A. Category I B. Category II C. Category III correct answer B. Category II Absence of accelerations following fetal stimulation (i.e. scalp stimulation) is categorized as
A prolonged acceleration lasts greater than ___ minutes and less than ___ minutes. A. 2; 10 B. 2; 20 C. 10; 20 D. 10; 20 correct answer A. 2; 10 _______ FHR patterns are those associated with uterine contractions. A. Periodic B. Episodic C. Recurrent D. Irregular correct answer A. Periodic _______ FHR patterns are those that are not associated with uterine contractions. A. Periodic B. Episodic C. Recurrent D. Irregular correct answer B. Episodic Which of the following is not a likely cause of a sinusoidal FHR pattern? A. Chronic fetal bleeding B. Fetal hypoxia or anemia C. Triple screen positive for Trisomy 21 D. Fetal isoimmunization correct answer C. Triple screen positive for Trisomy 21
Which of the following factors is not likely to cause uteroplacental insufficiency? A. Late-term gestation B. Preeclampsia C. Gestational diabetes D. Polyhydramnios E. Maternal smoking or drug use correct answer D. Polyhydramnios Which of the following are considered determinants of fetal well-being? (Select all that apply). A. Absence of decelerations in FHR B. Palpation of fetal movement C. Presence of accelerations in FHR D. Moderate variability in FHR E. Presence of early decelerations in second stage correct answer C. Presence of accelerations in FHR D. Moderate variability in FHR When auscultation is used for fetal assessment during labor for a low-risk woman, the FHR should be auscultated in the first stage of labor every A. 5 min B. 15-30 min C. 60 min correct answer B. 15-30 min For a low-risk woman in the second stage of labor, the FHR should be auscultated every
