NSG 3500 Exam 4 Study Guide – Maternal Health
Nursing Units | Galen College of Nursing
2026/2027.✔✔✔
NSG 3500 EXAM 4
APGAR
heart rate
respiratory effort
muscle tone
reflex irritability
color
A - Appearance (APGAR Scale)
2 no blue
1 blue extremities
0 blue all over
P - Pulse
0: absent
1: below 100 bpm
2: above 100 bpm
G - Grimace (APGAR Scale)
2- Cry on stimulation
1- Grimace on stimulation
0- No response to stimulation
A- Activity
2- Flexed limbs that resist extension
1- Some flexion
0- No movement
R- Respiration
0: absent
1: slow, irregular
2: vigorous cry
Normal APGAR score
, 7-10
If baby is scored below 7 on APGAR score, what does that
indicate?
A problem
Easiest way to check pulse on newborn at delivery
palpate umbilical cord
Baby are typically born with brown fat which
insulates organs
Respiratory transition: 4 factors that initiate the first
breath
hypercarbia
Increased carbon dioxide level in the bloodstream.
Acidosis
excessive acidity of body fluids
Hypoxia
increased CO2 prompts medulla to initiate breathing
How to assess pH on from new borns blood
ABGs can be taken from the umbilical cord
New borns can have periods of apnea lasting
10-20 seconds
Signs of respiratory distress
grunting, nasal flaring, chest/sternal retractions
Increased stimulation of the neonate during the birthing
and drying process helps initiate
cry
Temperature change after birth causes
a lot of stimulation which helps cry
When the chest becomes compressed by the vaginal
canal, it causes a initial
small passive inspiration when the chest recoils, causing stimulation
Nursing Units | Galen College of Nursing
2026/2027.✔✔✔
NSG 3500 EXAM 4
APGAR
heart rate
respiratory effort
muscle tone
reflex irritability
color
A - Appearance (APGAR Scale)
2 no blue
1 blue extremities
0 blue all over
P - Pulse
0: absent
1: below 100 bpm
2: above 100 bpm
G - Grimace (APGAR Scale)
2- Cry on stimulation
1- Grimace on stimulation
0- No response to stimulation
A- Activity
2- Flexed limbs that resist extension
1- Some flexion
0- No movement
R- Respiration
0: absent
1: slow, irregular
2: vigorous cry
Normal APGAR score
, 7-10
If baby is scored below 7 on APGAR score, what does that
indicate?
A problem
Easiest way to check pulse on newborn at delivery
palpate umbilical cord
Baby are typically born with brown fat which
insulates organs
Respiratory transition: 4 factors that initiate the first
breath
hypercarbia
Increased carbon dioxide level in the bloodstream.
Acidosis
excessive acidity of body fluids
Hypoxia
increased CO2 prompts medulla to initiate breathing
How to assess pH on from new borns blood
ABGs can be taken from the umbilical cord
New borns can have periods of apnea lasting
10-20 seconds
Signs of respiratory distress
grunting, nasal flaring, chest/sternal retractions
Increased stimulation of the neonate during the birthing
and drying process helps initiate
cry
Temperature change after birth causes
a lot of stimulation which helps cry
When the chest becomes compressed by the vaginal
canal, it causes a initial
small passive inspiration when the chest recoils, causing stimulation
