NSG 212 UNIT 3 | COMPREHENSIVE NURSING STUDY GUIDE, PRACTICE
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 2026/2027
What is the normal range for a newborn's heart rate? Temp? respirations?
a. HR: 80-120, T: 97.4-97.7; Resp: 12-20
b. HR: 110-160, T: 97.7-99.5; Respirations: 30-60
c. HR: 100-150; T: 97.0-98.0; Resp: 20-40 - ANS ✔✔b. HR: 110-160, T: 97.7-99.5; Respirations: 30-60
The "First Period of Reactivity" begins after delivery and lasts approximately
a. 30 min
b. 2hrs
c. 8hrs - ANS ✔✔a. 30 min
The most critical step in newborn transition from intrauterine to extrauterine life is:
a. Increase in HR
b. Initiation of respirations
c. First meconium stool - ANS ✔✔b. Initiation of respirations
A way to prevent neonatal heat loss from conduction would be to:
a. Move the bassinette away from the window
b. Put a blanket on the scale prior to weighing
c. Put a cap on baby's head immediately after delivery. - ANS ✔✔b. Put a blanket on the scale prior to
weighing
Pathologic jaundice may be:
a. Present at birth
b. Only in preemies
c. Seen after 24hrs of life - ANS ✔✔a. Present at birth
Vitamin K must be given to infants within one hour after birth because:
a. An infant's gut is sterile
b. It is the first immunization on the newborn schedule
c. It is necessary to produce first stool - ANS ✔✔a. An infant's gut is sterile
When should an APGAR score be assessed in a newborn?
a. Within first 12 hours of life
b. Prior to discharge home
c. At 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth - ANS ✔✔c. At 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth
A caput succedaneum:
a. Should be worn immediately after delivery
b. Does not cross cranial suture lines
c. Crosses cranial suture lines - ANS ✔✔c. Crosses cranial suture lines
What is the purpose of the Newborn Screen before the infant is discharged home?
a. It screens for potential child abuse
,b. It screens for genetic metabolic diseases
c. It screens for potential breastfeeding success. - ANS ✔✔b. It screens for genetic metabolic diseases
Which reflex is stimulated on an infant's foot?
a. Moro
b. Galant
c. Babinski - ANS ✔✔c. Babinski
Newborns are most susceptible to cold stress in the period shortly after birth.
TRUE or FALSE? - ANS ✔✔TRUE
Nonshivering thermogenesis results in heat production for the newborn by:
A. releasing glycogen from the liver.
B. increasing muscle activity.
C. producing vasoconstriction.
D. metabolizing brown fat. - ANS ✔✔D. metabolizing brown fat.
A newborn placed by a nursery door in an open crib is subjected to cool air currents each time the door
is opened. This produces heat loss primarily by:
a. radiation.
b. evaporation.
c. convection.
d. conduction. - ANS ✔✔c. convection.
Hypothermia increases the newborn's risk for hypoglycemia, jaundice and sepsis.
TRUE or FALSE? - ANS ✔✔TRUE
Which of the following is considered a normal newborn axillary temperature, according to guidelines of
the World Health Organization?
a. 37.8°C (100°F)
b. 36.5°C (97.7°F)
c. 36.2°C (97.1°F)
d. 35.6°C (96°F) - ANS ✔✔b. 36.5°C (97.7°F)
Heat loss by evaporation is most effectively prevented by:
A. keeping the newborn's crib away from a cold wall.
B. warming the surface of the scale before placing the newborn on it.
C. thoroughly drying the newborn immediately after birth.
D. putting a T-shirt and diaper on the newborn. - ANS ✔✔C. thoroughly drying the newborn immediately
after birth.
Skin-to-skin contact with the mother is an effective way to prevent cold stress for the healthy, term
newborn.
TRUE or FALSE? - ANS ✔✔TRUE
Preterm newborns are at high risk for cold stress due to all of the following EXCEPT:
A. high ratio of surface area to body mass.
B. immature temperature-control mechanisms.
,C. poor muscle tone.
D. increased glycogen stores. - ANS ✔✔D. increased glycogen stores.
The priority intervention for a healthy, term newborn with mild hypothermia is to:
A. put an extra blanket over the newborn in the open crib.
B. feed 2 ounces of glucose water.
C. re-warm slowly in an incubator or radiant warmer.
D. do nothing, and re-check the temperature in one hour. - ANS ✔✔C. re-warm slowly in an incubator or
radiant warmer.
Hypothermia in the newborn results in which of the following physiologic changes?
A. Increased oxygen needs and decreased metabolic rate
B. Increased oxygen needs and metabolic rate
C. Decreased oxygen needs and increased metabolic rate
D. Decreased oxygen needs and metabolic rate - ANS ✔✔B. Increased oxygen needs and metabolic rate
Spontaneous recovery of arm function following BPI is most likely with which of the following types of
nerve injury?
a. rupture
b. avulsion
c. neuropraxia
d. neuroma - ANS ✔✔c. neuropraxia
The most common type of BPI is Erb's palsy.
TRUE or FALSE? - ANS ✔✔TRUE
Risk of BPI is increased with which of the following maternal illnesses during pregnancy?
A. Rubella
B. Hepatitis A
C. Varicella
D. Genital herpes - ANS ✔✔C. Varicella
Due to a BPI, a newborn's arm is held close to her body, straight, and is internally rotated, with flexion of
the wrist and fingers. A grasp reflex is present. This is most likely what type of BPI?
A. Bell's palsy
B. Erb's palsy
C. Klumpke paralysis
D. Global plexus palsy - ANS ✔✔B. Erb's palsy
Which of the following maternal conditions is LEAST likely to increase the risk of BPI?
A. Chronic hypertension
B. Structural uterine abnormalities
C. Gestational diabetes
D. Obesity - ANS ✔✔A. Chronic hypertension
The most severe type of nerve injury tends to affect which nerve roots?
a. Central
b. Middle
, c. Lower
d. Upper - ANS ✔✔c. Lower
Having a cesarean birth eliminates the possibility that BPI will occur.
TRUE or FALSE? - ANS ✔✔FALSE
A BPI affecting the lower nerves (C8-T1) is most likely to result in paralysis of the:
A. hand.
B. shoulder.
C. neck.
D. diaphragm. - ANS ✔✔A. hand
A brachial plexus injury on one side can affect the function of both arms.
TRUE or FALSE? - ANS ✔✔FALSE
The brachial plexus is located in the:
A. bend of the elbow on each arm
B. center of the abdomen
C. chest, between the heart and lungs
D. neck, shoulder and axillary area - ANS ✔✔D. neck, shoulder and axillary area
All of the following factors are believed to play a role in the development of necrotizing enterocolitis
(NEC) EXCEPT:
a. bacterial invasion.
b. enteral feeding.
c. increased cardiac output.
d. decreased intestinal blood supply. - ANS ✔✔c. increased cardiac output.
NEC is most likely to occur in which of the following neonates?
A. Baby R, born at 27 weeks gestation
B. Baby G, born at 35 weeks gestation
C. Baby W, born at 39 weeks gestation
D. Baby A, born at 41 weeks gestation - ANS ✔✔A. Baby R, born at 27 weeks gestation
Which of the following is NOT a risk factor for development of NEC?
A. Polycythemia
B. Hypothermia
C. Umbilical artery catheterization
D. Antenatal steroid use - ANS ✔✔D. Antenatal steroid use
NEC does not occur in healthy, term newborns.
TRUE or FALSE? - ANS ✔✔FALSE
Diagnosis of NEC is most likely to be confirmed by:
A. white blood cell count.
B. arterial blood gases.
C. blood cultures.
D. abdominal X-ray. - ANS ✔✔D. abdominal X-ray.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 2026/2027
What is the normal range for a newborn's heart rate? Temp? respirations?
a. HR: 80-120, T: 97.4-97.7; Resp: 12-20
b. HR: 110-160, T: 97.7-99.5; Respirations: 30-60
c. HR: 100-150; T: 97.0-98.0; Resp: 20-40 - ANS ✔✔b. HR: 110-160, T: 97.7-99.5; Respirations: 30-60
The "First Period of Reactivity" begins after delivery and lasts approximately
a. 30 min
b. 2hrs
c. 8hrs - ANS ✔✔a. 30 min
The most critical step in newborn transition from intrauterine to extrauterine life is:
a. Increase in HR
b. Initiation of respirations
c. First meconium stool - ANS ✔✔b. Initiation of respirations
A way to prevent neonatal heat loss from conduction would be to:
a. Move the bassinette away from the window
b. Put a blanket on the scale prior to weighing
c. Put a cap on baby's head immediately after delivery. - ANS ✔✔b. Put a blanket on the scale prior to
weighing
Pathologic jaundice may be:
a. Present at birth
b. Only in preemies
c. Seen after 24hrs of life - ANS ✔✔a. Present at birth
Vitamin K must be given to infants within one hour after birth because:
a. An infant's gut is sterile
b. It is the first immunization on the newborn schedule
c. It is necessary to produce first stool - ANS ✔✔a. An infant's gut is sterile
When should an APGAR score be assessed in a newborn?
a. Within first 12 hours of life
b. Prior to discharge home
c. At 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth - ANS ✔✔c. At 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth
A caput succedaneum:
a. Should be worn immediately after delivery
b. Does not cross cranial suture lines
c. Crosses cranial suture lines - ANS ✔✔c. Crosses cranial suture lines
What is the purpose of the Newborn Screen before the infant is discharged home?
a. It screens for potential child abuse
,b. It screens for genetic metabolic diseases
c. It screens for potential breastfeeding success. - ANS ✔✔b. It screens for genetic metabolic diseases
Which reflex is stimulated on an infant's foot?
a. Moro
b. Galant
c. Babinski - ANS ✔✔c. Babinski
Newborns are most susceptible to cold stress in the period shortly after birth.
TRUE or FALSE? - ANS ✔✔TRUE
Nonshivering thermogenesis results in heat production for the newborn by:
A. releasing glycogen from the liver.
B. increasing muscle activity.
C. producing vasoconstriction.
D. metabolizing brown fat. - ANS ✔✔D. metabolizing brown fat.
A newborn placed by a nursery door in an open crib is subjected to cool air currents each time the door
is opened. This produces heat loss primarily by:
a. radiation.
b. evaporation.
c. convection.
d. conduction. - ANS ✔✔c. convection.
Hypothermia increases the newborn's risk for hypoglycemia, jaundice and sepsis.
TRUE or FALSE? - ANS ✔✔TRUE
Which of the following is considered a normal newborn axillary temperature, according to guidelines of
the World Health Organization?
a. 37.8°C (100°F)
b. 36.5°C (97.7°F)
c. 36.2°C (97.1°F)
d. 35.6°C (96°F) - ANS ✔✔b. 36.5°C (97.7°F)
Heat loss by evaporation is most effectively prevented by:
A. keeping the newborn's crib away from a cold wall.
B. warming the surface of the scale before placing the newborn on it.
C. thoroughly drying the newborn immediately after birth.
D. putting a T-shirt and diaper on the newborn. - ANS ✔✔C. thoroughly drying the newborn immediately
after birth.
Skin-to-skin contact with the mother is an effective way to prevent cold stress for the healthy, term
newborn.
TRUE or FALSE? - ANS ✔✔TRUE
Preterm newborns are at high risk for cold stress due to all of the following EXCEPT:
A. high ratio of surface area to body mass.
B. immature temperature-control mechanisms.
,C. poor muscle tone.
D. increased glycogen stores. - ANS ✔✔D. increased glycogen stores.
The priority intervention for a healthy, term newborn with mild hypothermia is to:
A. put an extra blanket over the newborn in the open crib.
B. feed 2 ounces of glucose water.
C. re-warm slowly in an incubator or radiant warmer.
D. do nothing, and re-check the temperature in one hour. - ANS ✔✔C. re-warm slowly in an incubator or
radiant warmer.
Hypothermia in the newborn results in which of the following physiologic changes?
A. Increased oxygen needs and decreased metabolic rate
B. Increased oxygen needs and metabolic rate
C. Decreased oxygen needs and increased metabolic rate
D. Decreased oxygen needs and metabolic rate - ANS ✔✔B. Increased oxygen needs and metabolic rate
Spontaneous recovery of arm function following BPI is most likely with which of the following types of
nerve injury?
a. rupture
b. avulsion
c. neuropraxia
d. neuroma - ANS ✔✔c. neuropraxia
The most common type of BPI is Erb's palsy.
TRUE or FALSE? - ANS ✔✔TRUE
Risk of BPI is increased with which of the following maternal illnesses during pregnancy?
A. Rubella
B. Hepatitis A
C. Varicella
D. Genital herpes - ANS ✔✔C. Varicella
Due to a BPI, a newborn's arm is held close to her body, straight, and is internally rotated, with flexion of
the wrist and fingers. A grasp reflex is present. This is most likely what type of BPI?
A. Bell's palsy
B. Erb's palsy
C. Klumpke paralysis
D. Global plexus palsy - ANS ✔✔B. Erb's palsy
Which of the following maternal conditions is LEAST likely to increase the risk of BPI?
A. Chronic hypertension
B. Structural uterine abnormalities
C. Gestational diabetes
D. Obesity - ANS ✔✔A. Chronic hypertension
The most severe type of nerve injury tends to affect which nerve roots?
a. Central
b. Middle
, c. Lower
d. Upper - ANS ✔✔c. Lower
Having a cesarean birth eliminates the possibility that BPI will occur.
TRUE or FALSE? - ANS ✔✔FALSE
A BPI affecting the lower nerves (C8-T1) is most likely to result in paralysis of the:
A. hand.
B. shoulder.
C. neck.
D. diaphragm. - ANS ✔✔A. hand
A brachial plexus injury on one side can affect the function of both arms.
TRUE or FALSE? - ANS ✔✔FALSE
The brachial plexus is located in the:
A. bend of the elbow on each arm
B. center of the abdomen
C. chest, between the heart and lungs
D. neck, shoulder and axillary area - ANS ✔✔D. neck, shoulder and axillary area
All of the following factors are believed to play a role in the development of necrotizing enterocolitis
(NEC) EXCEPT:
a. bacterial invasion.
b. enteral feeding.
c. increased cardiac output.
d. decreased intestinal blood supply. - ANS ✔✔c. increased cardiac output.
NEC is most likely to occur in which of the following neonates?
A. Baby R, born at 27 weeks gestation
B. Baby G, born at 35 weeks gestation
C. Baby W, born at 39 weeks gestation
D. Baby A, born at 41 weeks gestation - ANS ✔✔A. Baby R, born at 27 weeks gestation
Which of the following is NOT a risk factor for development of NEC?
A. Polycythemia
B. Hypothermia
C. Umbilical artery catheterization
D. Antenatal steroid use - ANS ✔✔D. Antenatal steroid use
NEC does not occur in healthy, term newborns.
TRUE or FALSE? - ANS ✔✔FALSE
Diagnosis of NEC is most likely to be confirmed by:
A. white blood cell count.
B. arterial blood gases.
C. blood cultures.
D. abdominal X-ray. - ANS ✔✔D. abdominal X-ray.
