Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing Certification
(RNC-NIC) Verified Questions, Correct Answers,
and Detailed Explanations for Science
Students||Already Graded A+
1. Which gestational age defines a preterm infant?
A. Less than 36 weeks
B. Less than 37 weeks
C. Less than 38 weeks
D. Less than 40 weeks
Answer: B
Preterm infants are defined as those born before 37 completed weeks
of gestation.
2. The primary cause of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in
preterm infants is:
A. Pulmonary edema
B. Meconium aspiration
C. Surfactant deficiency
D. Airway obstruction
Answer: C
Insufficient surfactant leads to alveolar collapse and impaired gas
exchange, causing RDS.
3. Which assessment finding is most concerning in a neonate with
hypoglycemia?
A. Tremors
B. Poor feeding
,C. Weak cry
D. Seizures
Answer: D
Seizures indicate severe hypoglycemia and require immediate
intervention.
4. The Apgar score is assessed at which times after birth?
A. 30 seconds and 1 minute
B. 1 minute and 5 minutes
C. 5 minutes and 10 minutes
D. At birth only
Answer: B
The Apgar score evaluates neonatal adaptation at 1 and 5 minutes of
life.
5. Which oxygen saturation range is generally targeted in preterm
infants to reduce retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)?
A. 95–100%
B. 92–98%
C. 90–95%
D. 85–90%
Answer: C
Maintaining saturations in a controlled range reduces oxygen-related
complications like ROP.
6. A hallmark sign of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is:
A. Projectile vomiting
B. Abdominal distention
,C. Excessive weight gain
D. Hyperactive bowel sounds
Answer: B
Abdominal distention is a classic early sign of NEC due to bowel
inflammation.
7. Which factor places a neonate at greatest risk for
hyperbilirubinemia?
A. Female sex
B. Term gestation
C. ABO incompatibility
D. Formula feeding
Answer: C
Hemolysis from blood group incompatibility increases bilirubin levels.
8. The most effective method for preventing hypothermia in a very
low birth weight infant is:
A. Cotton blankets
B. Radiant warmer alone
C. Thermoregulated incubator
D. Frequent handling
Answer: C
Incubators provide precise temperature and humidity control for
fragile infants.
9. Which condition is most associated with maternal diabetes?
A. Microcephaly
B. Macrosomia
, C. Intrauterine growth restriction
D. Neural tube defects
Answer: B
Infants of diabetic mothers are often large for gestational age due to
hyperinsulinemia.
10. A common complication of prolonged mechanical ventilation in
neonates is:
A. Pneumonia
B. Pulmonary hemorrhage
C. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD)
D. Pleural effusion
Answer: C
BPD results from lung injury caused by oxygen and pressure over
time.
11. Which assessment best evaluates pain in a preterm neonate?
A. Verbal report
B. Heart rate alone
C. Validated neonatal pain scale
D. Blood pressure measurement
Answer: C
Tools like NIPS or PIPP assess behavioral and physiological pain
indicators.
12. A neonate born at 28 weeks gestation is classified as:
A. Moderately preterm
B. Late preterm
(RNC-NIC) Verified Questions, Correct Answers,
and Detailed Explanations for Science
Students||Already Graded A+
1. Which gestational age defines a preterm infant?
A. Less than 36 weeks
B. Less than 37 weeks
C. Less than 38 weeks
D. Less than 40 weeks
Answer: B
Preterm infants are defined as those born before 37 completed weeks
of gestation.
2. The primary cause of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in
preterm infants is:
A. Pulmonary edema
B. Meconium aspiration
C. Surfactant deficiency
D. Airway obstruction
Answer: C
Insufficient surfactant leads to alveolar collapse and impaired gas
exchange, causing RDS.
3. Which assessment finding is most concerning in a neonate with
hypoglycemia?
A. Tremors
B. Poor feeding
,C. Weak cry
D. Seizures
Answer: D
Seizures indicate severe hypoglycemia and require immediate
intervention.
4. The Apgar score is assessed at which times after birth?
A. 30 seconds and 1 minute
B. 1 minute and 5 minutes
C. 5 minutes and 10 minutes
D. At birth only
Answer: B
The Apgar score evaluates neonatal adaptation at 1 and 5 minutes of
life.
5. Which oxygen saturation range is generally targeted in preterm
infants to reduce retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)?
A. 95–100%
B. 92–98%
C. 90–95%
D. 85–90%
Answer: C
Maintaining saturations in a controlled range reduces oxygen-related
complications like ROP.
6. A hallmark sign of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is:
A. Projectile vomiting
B. Abdominal distention
,C. Excessive weight gain
D. Hyperactive bowel sounds
Answer: B
Abdominal distention is a classic early sign of NEC due to bowel
inflammation.
7. Which factor places a neonate at greatest risk for
hyperbilirubinemia?
A. Female sex
B. Term gestation
C. ABO incompatibility
D. Formula feeding
Answer: C
Hemolysis from blood group incompatibility increases bilirubin levels.
8. The most effective method for preventing hypothermia in a very
low birth weight infant is:
A. Cotton blankets
B. Radiant warmer alone
C. Thermoregulated incubator
D. Frequent handling
Answer: C
Incubators provide precise temperature and humidity control for
fragile infants.
9. Which condition is most associated with maternal diabetes?
A. Microcephaly
B. Macrosomia
, C. Intrauterine growth restriction
D. Neural tube defects
Answer: B
Infants of diabetic mothers are often large for gestational age due to
hyperinsulinemia.
10. A common complication of prolonged mechanical ventilation in
neonates is:
A. Pneumonia
B. Pulmonary hemorrhage
C. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD)
D. Pleural effusion
Answer: C
BPD results from lung injury caused by oxygen and pressure over
time.
11. Which assessment best evaluates pain in a preterm neonate?
A. Verbal report
B. Heart rate alone
C. Validated neonatal pain scale
D. Blood pressure measurement
Answer: C
Tools like NIPS or PIPP assess behavioral and physiological pain
indicators.
12. A neonate born at 28 weeks gestation is classified as:
A. Moderately preterm
B. Late preterm
