RNC-NIC EXAMINATION TEST QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026
◉ signs of HIV in newborn. Answer: - poor weight gain
- **repeated fungal mouth infections** (thrush)
- enlarged lymph nodes
- enlarged liver/spleen
- neurologic problems
- multiple bacterial infections, including pneumonia
◉ chlamydia. Answer: - **most common bacterial sexually
transmitted infection**
- *treatment: erythromycin*
◉ signs/symptoms of neonatal chlamydia. Answer: - conjunctivitis
in first few weeks
- late-onset: pneumonia at 3-4 months
- otitis media
- gastroenteritis
◉ oligohydramnios. Answer: - AF volume <1 L at 36 weeks, <800 mL
at term
,- can lead to pulmonary hypoplasia d/t amniotic fluid's role in fetal
pulmonary development
- **may be related to Potter sequence/renal agenesis** because AF
is largely made up of fetal urine (no urine if the baby has no kidneys)
- **can lead to hypoplastic lungs**
- can also lead to IUGR and positional deformities (baby can't move
well)
◉ Potter sequence (renal agenesis). Answer: - **Renal agenesis ->
oligohydramnios -> severe pulmonary hypoplasia**
- association of defects beginning w/ bilateral renal agenesis d/t
failure of the ureteric bud to divide
- urine formation does not occur --> low or absent amniotic fluid
volumes
- fetal structures are compressed
- associated defects: abnormal genital dev., leg deformities, GI
defects, arthrohyposis, pulmonary hypoplasia
- *most infants will die within the first several days; often d/t
associated lung hypoplasia*
◉ hydramnios or polyhydramnios. Answer: - AF volume >2L
- **may be due to GI obstructions (e.g. esophageal atresia, duodenal
to anal atresia) d/t the baby being unable to swallow amniotic fluid,
so the AF keeps building up in utero **
,- also can be d/t tight nuchal cord or neurologic defects which may
also obstruct or impair fetal swallowing
◉ PROM. Answer: - premature rupture of membranes, before the
onset of labor
- **risk of infection if directly proportional to the duration of ROM**
- **after 24 hours of ROM, the risk of infection escalates
significantly**
◉ PPROM. Answer: - preterm premature rupture of membranes,
PROM occurring before 37 weeks
- does not necessarily lead to the onset of labor if it occurs too early,
but after 24 hours of ROM, the risk of infection escalates
- **risk of infection if directly proportional to the duration of ROM**
◉ maternal serum alpha fetaprotein (MSAFP). Answer: - aka triple
or quad screen
- test during pregnancy that measures a major fetal protein
produced in the fetal liver at >22 wks that is present in the mother's
blood
- maternal blood test that is a clue for some fetal anomalies,
generally between 15-22 wks, optimally at 16-18 wks
- **elevated levels may be indicative of neural tube defects (not
diagnostic, but is a clue)**
, - low levels associated with Trisomy 21
◉ Lecithin/Sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio. Answer: - test of amniotic
fluid to assess fetal lung maturity
- may help determine lung maturity to see when to deliver
prematurely if necessary
- **normal: greater or equal to ~2**
- <2 indicates immature lungs, <1.5 is associated with a high risk of
RDS
◉ fetal heart rate (FHR) decelerations. Answer: - defined as a fetal
heart rate decrease of at least 15 bpm that lasts longer than 2 min.
but less than 10 min.
◉ cause of early decelerations. Answer: **head compression**
◉ cause of variable decelerations. Answer: **cord compression**
◉ cause of late decelerations. Answer: **hypoxemia or placental
insufficiency**
◉ fetal tachycardia. Answer: - fetal HR >160 for 10 or more min.
- sustained 170s-180s **think infection**
ANSWERS 2026
◉ signs of HIV in newborn. Answer: - poor weight gain
- **repeated fungal mouth infections** (thrush)
- enlarged lymph nodes
- enlarged liver/spleen
- neurologic problems
- multiple bacterial infections, including pneumonia
◉ chlamydia. Answer: - **most common bacterial sexually
transmitted infection**
- *treatment: erythromycin*
◉ signs/symptoms of neonatal chlamydia. Answer: - conjunctivitis
in first few weeks
- late-onset: pneumonia at 3-4 months
- otitis media
- gastroenteritis
◉ oligohydramnios. Answer: - AF volume <1 L at 36 weeks, <800 mL
at term
,- can lead to pulmonary hypoplasia d/t amniotic fluid's role in fetal
pulmonary development
- **may be related to Potter sequence/renal agenesis** because AF
is largely made up of fetal urine (no urine if the baby has no kidneys)
- **can lead to hypoplastic lungs**
- can also lead to IUGR and positional deformities (baby can't move
well)
◉ Potter sequence (renal agenesis). Answer: - **Renal agenesis ->
oligohydramnios -> severe pulmonary hypoplasia**
- association of defects beginning w/ bilateral renal agenesis d/t
failure of the ureteric bud to divide
- urine formation does not occur --> low or absent amniotic fluid
volumes
- fetal structures are compressed
- associated defects: abnormal genital dev., leg deformities, GI
defects, arthrohyposis, pulmonary hypoplasia
- *most infants will die within the first several days; often d/t
associated lung hypoplasia*
◉ hydramnios or polyhydramnios. Answer: - AF volume >2L
- **may be due to GI obstructions (e.g. esophageal atresia, duodenal
to anal atresia) d/t the baby being unable to swallow amniotic fluid,
so the AF keeps building up in utero **
,- also can be d/t tight nuchal cord or neurologic defects which may
also obstruct or impair fetal swallowing
◉ PROM. Answer: - premature rupture of membranes, before the
onset of labor
- **risk of infection if directly proportional to the duration of ROM**
- **after 24 hours of ROM, the risk of infection escalates
significantly**
◉ PPROM. Answer: - preterm premature rupture of membranes,
PROM occurring before 37 weeks
- does not necessarily lead to the onset of labor if it occurs too early,
but after 24 hours of ROM, the risk of infection escalates
- **risk of infection if directly proportional to the duration of ROM**
◉ maternal serum alpha fetaprotein (MSAFP). Answer: - aka triple
or quad screen
- test during pregnancy that measures a major fetal protein
produced in the fetal liver at >22 wks that is present in the mother's
blood
- maternal blood test that is a clue for some fetal anomalies,
generally between 15-22 wks, optimally at 16-18 wks
- **elevated levels may be indicative of neural tube defects (not
diagnostic, but is a clue)**
, - low levels associated with Trisomy 21
◉ Lecithin/Sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio. Answer: - test of amniotic
fluid to assess fetal lung maturity
- may help determine lung maturity to see when to deliver
prematurely if necessary
- **normal: greater or equal to ~2**
- <2 indicates immature lungs, <1.5 is associated with a high risk of
RDS
◉ fetal heart rate (FHR) decelerations. Answer: - defined as a fetal
heart rate decrease of at least 15 bpm that lasts longer than 2 min.
but less than 10 min.
◉ cause of early decelerations. Answer: **head compression**
◉ cause of variable decelerations. Answer: **cord compression**
◉ cause of late decelerations. Answer: **hypoxemia or placental
insufficiency**
◉ fetal tachycardia. Answer: - fetal HR >160 for 10 or more min.
- sustained 170s-180s **think infection**
