RNC-NIC Exam Questions and Answers
100% Solved | Graded A+
Complications of hyperthermia - ✔✔-increased metabolic demands
-increased oxygen requirements
-apnea
Why might a HYPERthermic infant be hypotensive? - ✔✔They are vasodilated in
an attempt to dissipate heat
What are three complications of increased insensible water loss? -
✔✔HYPERnatremia, dehydration, evaporative heat loss
What circumstances would warrant a baby being on an elemental formula? -
✔✔Liver disease, short gut syndrome, dysmotility (such as gastroschisis),
malabsorption, severe protein allergies
Most common causes of metabolic acidosis in NICU population - ✔✔Renal
tubular acidosis/renal failure, lactic acidosis (tissue hypoxia, sepsis, neonatal
cold stress)
Common causes of metabolic alkalosis - ✔✔Vomiting, NG/OG suctioning,
sodium bicarb use
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,How is PIP adjusted in accordance with PaCO2? - ✔✔Elevated PaCO2 -> Increase
PIP
Low PaCO2 --> Decrease PIP
What is the general indication for HFOV? - ✔✔Conventional ventilator failure
When does FUNCTIONAL closure of the ductus arteriosus occur? - ✔✔within the
first 12hrs after birth
When does the ANATOMIC closure of the ductus arteriosus occur? - ✔✔Can
take up to one month after birth
TTN (Transient tachypnea of the newborn) - ✔✔-Respiratory distress caused by
ineffective breathing at birth; delayed clearance of lung fluid
-Tachypnea, grunting, shallow breathing, nasal flaring, respiratory acidosis
-May need intubation and ventilation
-Sunburst pattern with perihilar streakiness on x-ray
-Fluid in interlobar tissue
Normal Urine output - ✔✔1-4 ml/kg/hr
What are three effects of perinatal steroids on neonates? - ✔✔-Maturation of
epithelial skin barrier and renal epithelial transport system
-Lower incidence of insensible water loss & hypernatremia
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,-Lower fluid requirements in first 7 days of life
What mineral aids in bone mineralization? - ✔✔Phosphorus
Chloride - ✔✔Normal value 96-111
Inverse correlation with bicarb
too much = acidosis
too little = alkalosis
Potassium - ✔✔Normal value 3.5-5.5
If abnormal, can cause weakness, arrhythmias, even death
Sodium - ✔✔Normal 135-145
If abnormal, can cause seizures, venous sinus thrombosis, CNS hemorrhage
What are some complications of cold stress? - ✔✔Apnea, low blood sugar, low
blood pressure, seizures
Radiant heat loss (Radiation) - ✔✔-Transfer of heat between two objects that
do not touch each other
#1 mode of heat loss for preemies in after first week of life
-Ex - baby's bed is near a cold, closed window
Evaporative heat loss - ✔✔Transfer of heat through water loss
#1 mode of heat loss in preemies in first week of life
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©KERRYMARTIN 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025.
, ex - baby on wet blankets
Convection heat loss - ✔✔Transfer of heat to colder air in environment
ex- infant in drafty area or cold room
Conductive heat loss - ✔✔Transfer of heat from a warm surface to a cold
surface
ex- baby placed on cold scale
Cryptorchidism - ✔✔undescended testes
First Pass Effect - ✔✔Hepatic bio-transformation may markedly alter drug
availability by directly metabolizing drugs absorbed from the GI tract before
those drugs reach systemic circulation
How is PPHN diagnosed? (gold standard) - ✔✔Echocardiogram shows right to
left shunting
PROM - ✔✔Premature rupture of membranes (before onset of labor)
risk of cord prolapse
PPROM - ✔✔Preterm premature rupture of membranes
ROM occurring before onset of labor and before 37wks gestation
Chorioamnionitis - ✔✔Inflammation of placental membranes; can lead to
sepsis, pneumonia, and even meningitis in the newborn
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©KERRYMARTIN 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025.
100% Solved | Graded A+
Complications of hyperthermia - ✔✔-increased metabolic demands
-increased oxygen requirements
-apnea
Why might a HYPERthermic infant be hypotensive? - ✔✔They are vasodilated in
an attempt to dissipate heat
What are three complications of increased insensible water loss? -
✔✔HYPERnatremia, dehydration, evaporative heat loss
What circumstances would warrant a baby being on an elemental formula? -
✔✔Liver disease, short gut syndrome, dysmotility (such as gastroschisis),
malabsorption, severe protein allergies
Most common causes of metabolic acidosis in NICU population - ✔✔Renal
tubular acidosis/renal failure, lactic acidosis (tissue hypoxia, sepsis, neonatal
cold stress)
Common causes of metabolic alkalosis - ✔✔Vomiting, NG/OG suctioning,
sodium bicarb use
1|Page
©KERRYMARTIN 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025.
,How is PIP adjusted in accordance with PaCO2? - ✔✔Elevated PaCO2 -> Increase
PIP
Low PaCO2 --> Decrease PIP
What is the general indication for HFOV? - ✔✔Conventional ventilator failure
When does FUNCTIONAL closure of the ductus arteriosus occur? - ✔✔within the
first 12hrs after birth
When does the ANATOMIC closure of the ductus arteriosus occur? - ✔✔Can
take up to one month after birth
TTN (Transient tachypnea of the newborn) - ✔✔-Respiratory distress caused by
ineffective breathing at birth; delayed clearance of lung fluid
-Tachypnea, grunting, shallow breathing, nasal flaring, respiratory acidosis
-May need intubation and ventilation
-Sunburst pattern with perihilar streakiness on x-ray
-Fluid in interlobar tissue
Normal Urine output - ✔✔1-4 ml/kg/hr
What are three effects of perinatal steroids on neonates? - ✔✔-Maturation of
epithelial skin barrier and renal epithelial transport system
-Lower incidence of insensible water loss & hypernatremia
2|Page
©KERRYMARTIN 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025.
,-Lower fluid requirements in first 7 days of life
What mineral aids in bone mineralization? - ✔✔Phosphorus
Chloride - ✔✔Normal value 96-111
Inverse correlation with bicarb
too much = acidosis
too little = alkalosis
Potassium - ✔✔Normal value 3.5-5.5
If abnormal, can cause weakness, arrhythmias, even death
Sodium - ✔✔Normal 135-145
If abnormal, can cause seizures, venous sinus thrombosis, CNS hemorrhage
What are some complications of cold stress? - ✔✔Apnea, low blood sugar, low
blood pressure, seizures
Radiant heat loss (Radiation) - ✔✔-Transfer of heat between two objects that
do not touch each other
#1 mode of heat loss for preemies in after first week of life
-Ex - baby's bed is near a cold, closed window
Evaporative heat loss - ✔✔Transfer of heat through water loss
#1 mode of heat loss in preemies in first week of life
3|Page
©KERRYMARTIN 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025.
, ex - baby on wet blankets
Convection heat loss - ✔✔Transfer of heat to colder air in environment
ex- infant in drafty area or cold room
Conductive heat loss - ✔✔Transfer of heat from a warm surface to a cold
surface
ex- baby placed on cold scale
Cryptorchidism - ✔✔undescended testes
First Pass Effect - ✔✔Hepatic bio-transformation may markedly alter drug
availability by directly metabolizing drugs absorbed from the GI tract before
those drugs reach systemic circulation
How is PPHN diagnosed? (gold standard) - ✔✔Echocardiogram shows right to
left shunting
PROM - ✔✔Premature rupture of membranes (before onset of labor)
risk of cord prolapse
PPROM - ✔✔Preterm premature rupture of membranes
ROM occurring before onset of labor and before 37wks gestation
Chorioamnionitis - ✔✔Inflammation of placental membranes; can lead to
sepsis, pneumonia, and even meningitis in the newborn
4|Page
©KERRYMARTIN 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025.
