Newborn Care &
Complications: Nursing
Practice Question Test Bank
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
|ORIGINAL QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS |DETAILED
RATIONALES |HINTED
COMPLETE EXAM PREP
GRADED A+*INSTANT
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1. A nurse assesses a term newborn immediately after birth. Which
finding requires the most immediate intervention?
A. Heart rate 142/min
B. Respiratory rate 44/min
C. Acrocyanosis
D. Grunting with nasal flaring
Answer: D. Grunting with nasal flaring
,Rationale: Grunting and nasal flaring are signs of respiratory distress
and indicate impaired oxygenation requiring prompt assessment and
intervention.
2. Which assessment finding is expected in a healthy term newborn
during the first few hours after birth?
A. Central cyanosis
B. Respiratory rate of 40/min
C. Persistent apnea
D. Severe intercostal retractions
Answer: B. Respiratory rate of 40/min
Rationale: A normal newborn respiratory rate is approximately 30–60
breaths/min. Central cyanosis, apnea, and significant retractions are
abnormal.
3. What is the priority nursing intervention immediately after a
vigorous newborn is delivered?
A. Administer vitamin K
B. Obtain a blood glucose level
C. Dry the newborn and maintain warmth
D. Perform a complete physical examination
Answer: C. Dry the newborn and maintain warmth
Rationale: Drying prevents evaporative heat loss and helps establish
thermal stability immediately after birth.
4. Which route is commonly used to administer vitamin K to a
newborn?
A. Oral
B. Intramuscular
C. Intravenous
D. Subcutaneous
Answer: B. Intramuscular
,Rationale: Vitamin K is routinely administered intramuscularly to
prevent vitamin K deficiency bleeding.
5. Which medication is routinely administered to newborns to
prevent ophthalmia neonatorum?
A. Erythromycin ophthalmic ointment
B. Vitamin K
C. Hepatitis B immune globulin
D. Acetaminophen
Answer: A. Erythromycin ophthalmic ointment
Rationale: Prophylactic ophthalmic medication helps prevent
neonatal eye infection caused by organisms such as Neisseria
gonorrhoeae.
6. A newborn has a temperature of 35.8°C (96.4°F). Which nursing
action is appropriate?
A. Place the newborn under a radiant warmer
B. Give a cold bath
C. Increase room ventilation
D. Remove the newborn's clothing
Answer: A. Place the newborn under a radiant warmer
Rationale: Hypothermic newborns require prompt rewarming while
the nurse evaluates the cause and monitors glucose and respiratory
status.
7. Which mechanism of heat loss occurs when a newborn is placed
near a cold window?
A. Conduction
B. Convection
C. Radiation
D. Evaporation
Answer: C. Radiation
, Rationale: Radiation is heat loss from the newborn to nearby cooler
solid surfaces that are not in direct contact.
8. A newborn loses heat when placed on a cold examination table.
Which mechanism is responsible?
A. Radiation
B. Convection
C. Conduction
D. Evaporation
Answer: C. Conduction
Rationale: Conduction is heat transfer between the newborn and a
cooler surface in direct contact with the newborn.
9. Which intervention best prevents evaporative heat loss
immediately after birth?
A. Place the newborn near an air conditioner
B. Dry the newborn thoroughly
C. Use a cold mattress
D. Delay skin-to-skin contact
Answer: B. Dry the newborn thoroughly
Rationale: Moisture on the newborn's skin promotes evaporative
heat loss; thorough drying reduces this loss.
10. A newborn is positioned under an air-conditioning vent. Which
mechanism of heat loss is most likely?
A. Radiation
B. Conduction
C. Evaporation
D. Convection
Answer: D. Convection
Complications: Nursing
Practice Question Test Bank
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
|ORIGINAL QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS |DETAILED
RATIONALES |HINTED
COMPLETE EXAM PREP
GRADED A+*INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A nurse assesses a term newborn immediately after birth. Which
finding requires the most immediate intervention?
A. Heart rate 142/min
B. Respiratory rate 44/min
C. Acrocyanosis
D. Grunting with nasal flaring
Answer: D. Grunting with nasal flaring
,Rationale: Grunting and nasal flaring are signs of respiratory distress
and indicate impaired oxygenation requiring prompt assessment and
intervention.
2. Which assessment finding is expected in a healthy term newborn
during the first few hours after birth?
A. Central cyanosis
B. Respiratory rate of 40/min
C. Persistent apnea
D. Severe intercostal retractions
Answer: B. Respiratory rate of 40/min
Rationale: A normal newborn respiratory rate is approximately 30–60
breaths/min. Central cyanosis, apnea, and significant retractions are
abnormal.
3. What is the priority nursing intervention immediately after a
vigorous newborn is delivered?
A. Administer vitamin K
B. Obtain a blood glucose level
C. Dry the newborn and maintain warmth
D. Perform a complete physical examination
Answer: C. Dry the newborn and maintain warmth
Rationale: Drying prevents evaporative heat loss and helps establish
thermal stability immediately after birth.
4. Which route is commonly used to administer vitamin K to a
newborn?
A. Oral
B. Intramuscular
C. Intravenous
D. Subcutaneous
Answer: B. Intramuscular
,Rationale: Vitamin K is routinely administered intramuscularly to
prevent vitamin K deficiency bleeding.
5. Which medication is routinely administered to newborns to
prevent ophthalmia neonatorum?
A. Erythromycin ophthalmic ointment
B. Vitamin K
C. Hepatitis B immune globulin
D. Acetaminophen
Answer: A. Erythromycin ophthalmic ointment
Rationale: Prophylactic ophthalmic medication helps prevent
neonatal eye infection caused by organisms such as Neisseria
gonorrhoeae.
6. A newborn has a temperature of 35.8°C (96.4°F). Which nursing
action is appropriate?
A. Place the newborn under a radiant warmer
B. Give a cold bath
C. Increase room ventilation
D. Remove the newborn's clothing
Answer: A. Place the newborn under a radiant warmer
Rationale: Hypothermic newborns require prompt rewarming while
the nurse evaluates the cause and monitors glucose and respiratory
status.
7. Which mechanism of heat loss occurs when a newborn is placed
near a cold window?
A. Conduction
B. Convection
C. Radiation
D. Evaporation
Answer: C. Radiation
, Rationale: Radiation is heat loss from the newborn to nearby cooler
solid surfaces that are not in direct contact.
8. A newborn loses heat when placed on a cold examination table.
Which mechanism is responsible?
A. Radiation
B. Convection
C. Conduction
D. Evaporation
Answer: C. Conduction
Rationale: Conduction is heat transfer between the newborn and a
cooler surface in direct contact with the newborn.
9. Which intervention best prevents evaporative heat loss
immediately after birth?
A. Place the newborn near an air conditioner
B. Dry the newborn thoroughly
C. Use a cold mattress
D. Delay skin-to-skin contact
Answer: B. Dry the newborn thoroughly
Rationale: Moisture on the newborn's skin promotes evaporative
heat loss; thorough drying reduces this loss.
10. A newborn is positioned under an air-conditioning vent. Which
mechanism of heat loss is most likely?
A. Radiation
B. Conduction
C. Evaporation
D. Convection
Answer: D. Convection
