RNC - Low Risk Neonatal Nursing
Questions and Answers Updated
2026
NormalMskinMassessmentM-
MAnswerMAcrocyanosisMwithMdecreasedMperipheralMpulses,MfacialMbruisingMand/orMpetech
iae
NormalMheadMassessmentM-
MAnswerMLargeMinMrelationMtoMbodyMsize,McranialMmolding,McaputMsuccedaneum
NormalMnewbornMlungMassessmentM-MAnswerMRRM40-
60/min,McoarseMrales,MprolongedMexpirationMphase
NormalMnewbornMheartMassessmentM-MAnswerMHRM120-
160,MmayMpeakMupMtoM180MbpmMwhenMstimulated,MloudMS2,MsplitMS2,MsoftMsystolicM
murmurM(LM—>MRMshuntMfromMPDA)
NormalMnewbornMGIMtractMassessmentM-
MAnswerMBowelMsoundsMwillMlikelyMappearMwithinM15MminutesMofMbirth,MmeconiumMp
assageMwithinM24MhrsMofMbirth
NormalMnewbornMkidneysM-MAnswerMUrineMpassageMwithinM24MhrsMofMbirth
NormalMnewbornMlimbMassessmentM-
MAnswerMPositionalModditiesMfromMintrauterineMpositioningM(e.g.,MlegsMupMinMfrankMbre
echMposition)
NewbornMS/SMofMHypoglycemiaM-
MAnswerMApnea,MPallor,MJittery,MIrritability,MWeakMhigh-
pitchedMcry,MHypothermia,MLabileMtemps,MLethargy,MPoorMfeeding,MVomiting,MCyanosis,MS
eizures
CausesMofMHypoglycemiaM-
MAnswerM(OtherMthanMdelayedMfeeding):MIUGRMorMprematurity,MInbornMerrorsMofMmeta
bolismMorMglycogenMstorageMdisease,MHypothermiaMorMpolycythemia,MAdrenalMhemorrhag
e,MCHF,MHyperinsulinism
,HELLPMSyndromeM-
MAnswerMMayMbeMassociatedMwithMPIH;Msymptoms:Mhemolysis,MelevatedMliverMenzymes,
MlowMplateletMcount;MtheMclientMisMatMriskMforMhemorrhage,MpulmonaryMedema,Mand
MhepaticMrupture
GestationalMHypertensionM-
MAnswerMTransientMelevationMofMbloodMpressureMoccurringMforMtheMfirstMtimeMafterM
mid-
pregnancyMwithoutMproteinuriaMorMotherMsignsMofMpreeclampsiaM(postpartumMperiod:Men
dsMbyM12Mweeks:MGestMHTN.MbeyondM12Mweeks:MChronicMHTN).
GBSM(groupMBMstrep)M-
MAnswerMGroupMBMstreptococcusM(GBS)MisMaMtypeMofMbacterialMinfectionMthatMcanMb
eMfoundMinMaMpregnantMwoman'sMvaginaMorMrectum.MThisMbacteriaMisMnormallyMfound
MinMtheMvaginaMand/orMrectumMofMaboutM25%MofMallMhealthy,MadultMwomen.MWome
nMwhoMtestMpositiveMforMGBSMareMsaidMtoMbeMcolonized
TheM30-week-
gestationMfetusMofMaMprimagravidMmotherMhasMbeenMdiagnosedMinMuteroMwithManMom
phalocele.MWhichMofMtheMfollowingMproceduresMshouldMtheMnurseManticipate?M-
MAnswerMKaryotypingMviaMamniocentesis;MOmphaloceleMandMgastroschisisMareMbothMcom
monlyMassociatedMwithMaccompanyingMdefectsMorMchromosomalMabnormalities.MAnMamni
ocentesisMwillMlikelyMbeMperformedMandMkaryotypingMdoneMtoMidentifyManyMchromosom
alMabnormalities.
AM38-week-
gestationMnewbornMisMvigorousMatMbirth.MTheMinfantMisMdried,MwrappedMinMwarmMbla
nketsMandMplacedMonMtheMmother'sMchest.MAtM6MminutesMofMlife,MtheMinfantMstillMap
pearsMcyanotic.MAccordingMtoMrecommendedMpracticeMguidelines,MwhichMofMtheMfollowin
gMshouldMtheMnurseMperformMFIRST?M-
MAnswerMCheckMtheMinfant'sMpulseMoximeterMreading
Feedback
RecommendedMpracticeMguidelinesMforMneonatalMresuscitationMutilizeMpulseMoximeterMrea
dingsMtoMdetermineMifManMinfantMisMwithinMacceptableMsaturationMrangeMforMminutesM
ofMlife.MUseMofM100%MoxygenMisMdiscouraged.
AM39-week-
gestationMnewbornMmaleMweighingM3.3MkgM(7.3Mlbs.)MisMadmittedMtoMtheMnewbornMnu
rseryMfollowingMaMcesareanMsection.MHowMmanyMkilocaloriesM(kcal)MshouldMthisMinfantM
consumeMtoMmeetMtheMaverageMdailyMrequirement?M-MAnswerM330Mkcal/day
,Feedback
TermMnewbornsMrequireMapproximatelyM100Mkcal/kg/day.MPrematureMinfantsMrequireMapp
roximatelyM120-150Mkcal/kg/day.
AMnurseMisMdevelopingMaMteachingMplanMforMtheMfamilyMofManMinfantMbeingMdischarg
edMhomeMwithMaMgastrostomyMtubeM(G-
tube).MWhichMofMtheMfollowingMstepsMshouldMbeMtakenMFIRST?M-
MAnswerMAssessMtheMfamily'sMcurrentMknowledgeMbase
Feedback
AssessmentMisMtheMfirstMstepMinMtheMnursingMprocess.MInMorderMtoMfacilitateMlearning,
MtheMlearner'sMknowledgeMandMskillsMshouldMbeMassessedMbeforeMaMteachingMplanMis
Mformed.
AMclientMhasMarrivedMatMtheMlaborMandMdeliveryMunitMinMactiveMlabor.MTheMnursingM
assessmentMrevealsMaMhistoryMofMgenitalMherpesMwithMactiveMlesionsMinMtheMgenitalMtr
actMatMpresent.MTheMnurseMplansMto:M-
MAnswerMPrepareMtheMclientMforMaMcesareanMdelivery
Feedback
AMcesareanMdeliveryMcanMreduceMtheMriskMofMneonatalMinfectionMwithMaMmotherMinMl
aborMwhoMhasMherpeticMgenitalMtractMlesions.MStandardMprecautionsMshouldMbeMmaintai
ned.
AM3-day-old,MformerM35-week-
gestationMfemaleMinfantMbornMtoMaMmotherMwithMaMhistoryMofMmethadoneMuseMisMbe
ginningMtoMshowMsignsMofMneonatalMabstinenceMsyndromeM(NAS).MNursingMsupportMmea
suresMforMthisMinfantMshouldMincludeMallMofMtheMfollowingMEXCEPT:M-
MAnswerMEncouragingMbottleMfeeding
Feedback
BreastfeedingMisMencouragedMforMbonding,MandMmayMalsoMhelpMalleviateMsomeMofMthe
Minfant'sMsymptomsMofMmethadoneMwithdrawal.MBottleMfeedingMshouldMonlyMbeMencour
agedMifMtheMinfantMisMnotMdemonstratingMadequateMweightMgainMwithMbreastfeedingMal
one,MorMifMtheMinfantMisMshowingMotherMadverseMreactionsMtoMbreastfeeding.MBreastfe
edingMshouldMnotMbeMencouragedMwhenMtheMmotherMhasMaMhistoryMofMillicitMdrugMu
se.
AMtermMinfantMisMdiagnosedMwithMintrauterineMgrowthMrestriction.MWhichMofMtheMfollo
wingMwouldMbeMaMprimaryMfactorMinMdeterminingMifMthisMinfant'sMgrowthMrestrictionMi
sMsymmetricalMorMasymmetrical?M-MAnswerMHeadMcircumference
Feedback
, SymmetricalMgrowthMrestrictionMresultsMinMheadMcircumferenceMproportionalMtoMinfantMb
odyMsizeMandMusuallyMrepresentsMfetalMetiologyMthatMspansMallMtrimesters.MAsymmetrica
lMgrowthMrestrictionMisMgenerallyMhead-
sparingMandMinfantsMwillMhaveMlargerMheadMcircumferenceMtoMbodyMsizeMratios.MAsym
metricalMgrowthMrestrictionMusuallyMrepresentsMmaternalMetiologiesMthatMaffectMthirdMtri
mesterMgrowthMandMdevelopment.
AnMobstetricMpractitionerMordersManMindirectMCoombsMtestMtoMdetermineMtheMpossibilit
yMofMmaternal-fetalMbloodMinteraction.MTheMnurseMshould:M-
MAnswerMDrawMtheMmother'sMblood
Feedback
AnMindirectMCoombsMtestMperformedMforMobstetricMpurposesMevaluatesMaMmother'sMblo
odM(usuallyMRhMnegative)MforMfree-
flowingMantibodiesMagainstMforeignMredMbloodMcellsM(usuallyMthoseMwithMpositiveMRhMf
actor).MAMdirectMCoombsMtestMisMperformedMonMtheMinfant'sMblood.
AMnurseMisMperformingManMassessmentMonMaM43-week-
gestationMmaleMinfant.MWhichMphysicalMcharacteristicMshouldMtheMnurseMexpectMtoMobs
erve?M-MAnswerMDesquamation
Feedback
TheMpost-
termMinfantM(bornMafterMtheM42ndMweekMofMgestation)MexhibitsMdry,Mpeeling,Mcracked,
MalmostMleather-likeMskinMoverMtheMbody,MwhichMisMcalledMdesquamation.
AM39-
weekMgestationMnewborn,MweighingM4.8MkgM(10.6Mlbs.)MwithMApgarMscoresMofM8MatM1
MminuteMandM9MatM5MminutesMfollowingMcesareanMdelivery,MisMexhibitingMtremorsMof
MtheMhandsMandMfeetMandManMincreasedMrespiratoryMrate.MThisMinfantMisMlikelyMdemo
nstrating:M-MAnswerMSymptomsMofMhypoglycemia
Feedback
LargeMinfantsMrequireMhigherMcaloricMintakeMtoMmaintainMtheirMglycogenMstores.MSympto
msMofMhypoglycemiaMcanMincludeMlimbMtremorsMandMtachypnea.
BasedMonMmaternalMhistoryMandMcurrentMpresentation,MaM6-day-
oldMtermMinfantMisMsuspectedMofMhavingMherpesMsimplexMmeningitis.MWhichMofMtheMfo
llowingMsetsMofMfindingsMisMlikelyMtoMappearMinMthisMpatient'sMcerebrospinalMfluidM(CSF
)?M-MAnswerMElevatedMRBCs,MnormalMglucose,MelevatedMprotein
Feedback
Questions and Answers Updated
2026
NormalMskinMassessmentM-
MAnswerMAcrocyanosisMwithMdecreasedMperipheralMpulses,MfacialMbruisingMand/orMpetech
iae
NormalMheadMassessmentM-
MAnswerMLargeMinMrelationMtoMbodyMsize,McranialMmolding,McaputMsuccedaneum
NormalMnewbornMlungMassessmentM-MAnswerMRRM40-
60/min,McoarseMrales,MprolongedMexpirationMphase
NormalMnewbornMheartMassessmentM-MAnswerMHRM120-
160,MmayMpeakMupMtoM180MbpmMwhenMstimulated,MloudMS2,MsplitMS2,MsoftMsystolicM
murmurM(LM—>MRMshuntMfromMPDA)
NormalMnewbornMGIMtractMassessmentM-
MAnswerMBowelMsoundsMwillMlikelyMappearMwithinM15MminutesMofMbirth,MmeconiumMp
assageMwithinM24MhrsMofMbirth
NormalMnewbornMkidneysM-MAnswerMUrineMpassageMwithinM24MhrsMofMbirth
NormalMnewbornMlimbMassessmentM-
MAnswerMPositionalModditiesMfromMintrauterineMpositioningM(e.g.,MlegsMupMinMfrankMbre
echMposition)
NewbornMS/SMofMHypoglycemiaM-
MAnswerMApnea,MPallor,MJittery,MIrritability,MWeakMhigh-
pitchedMcry,MHypothermia,MLabileMtemps,MLethargy,MPoorMfeeding,MVomiting,MCyanosis,MS
eizures
CausesMofMHypoglycemiaM-
MAnswerM(OtherMthanMdelayedMfeeding):MIUGRMorMprematurity,MInbornMerrorsMofMmeta
bolismMorMglycogenMstorageMdisease,MHypothermiaMorMpolycythemia,MAdrenalMhemorrhag
e,MCHF,MHyperinsulinism
,HELLPMSyndromeM-
MAnswerMMayMbeMassociatedMwithMPIH;Msymptoms:Mhemolysis,MelevatedMliverMenzymes,
MlowMplateletMcount;MtheMclientMisMatMriskMforMhemorrhage,MpulmonaryMedema,Mand
MhepaticMrupture
GestationalMHypertensionM-
MAnswerMTransientMelevationMofMbloodMpressureMoccurringMforMtheMfirstMtimeMafterM
mid-
pregnancyMwithoutMproteinuriaMorMotherMsignsMofMpreeclampsiaM(postpartumMperiod:Men
dsMbyM12Mweeks:MGestMHTN.MbeyondM12Mweeks:MChronicMHTN).
GBSM(groupMBMstrep)M-
MAnswerMGroupMBMstreptococcusM(GBS)MisMaMtypeMofMbacterialMinfectionMthatMcanMb
eMfoundMinMaMpregnantMwoman'sMvaginaMorMrectum.MThisMbacteriaMisMnormallyMfound
MinMtheMvaginaMand/orMrectumMofMaboutM25%MofMallMhealthy,MadultMwomen.MWome
nMwhoMtestMpositiveMforMGBSMareMsaidMtoMbeMcolonized
TheM30-week-
gestationMfetusMofMaMprimagravidMmotherMhasMbeenMdiagnosedMinMuteroMwithManMom
phalocele.MWhichMofMtheMfollowingMproceduresMshouldMtheMnurseManticipate?M-
MAnswerMKaryotypingMviaMamniocentesis;MOmphaloceleMandMgastroschisisMareMbothMcom
monlyMassociatedMwithMaccompanyingMdefectsMorMchromosomalMabnormalities.MAnMamni
ocentesisMwillMlikelyMbeMperformedMandMkaryotypingMdoneMtoMidentifyManyMchromosom
alMabnormalities.
AM38-week-
gestationMnewbornMisMvigorousMatMbirth.MTheMinfantMisMdried,MwrappedMinMwarmMbla
nketsMandMplacedMonMtheMmother'sMchest.MAtM6MminutesMofMlife,MtheMinfantMstillMap
pearsMcyanotic.MAccordingMtoMrecommendedMpracticeMguidelines,MwhichMofMtheMfollowin
gMshouldMtheMnurseMperformMFIRST?M-
MAnswerMCheckMtheMinfant'sMpulseMoximeterMreading
Feedback
RecommendedMpracticeMguidelinesMforMneonatalMresuscitationMutilizeMpulseMoximeterMrea
dingsMtoMdetermineMifManMinfantMisMwithinMacceptableMsaturationMrangeMforMminutesM
ofMlife.MUseMofM100%MoxygenMisMdiscouraged.
AM39-week-
gestationMnewbornMmaleMweighingM3.3MkgM(7.3Mlbs.)MisMadmittedMtoMtheMnewbornMnu
rseryMfollowingMaMcesareanMsection.MHowMmanyMkilocaloriesM(kcal)MshouldMthisMinfantM
consumeMtoMmeetMtheMaverageMdailyMrequirement?M-MAnswerM330Mkcal/day
,Feedback
TermMnewbornsMrequireMapproximatelyM100Mkcal/kg/day.MPrematureMinfantsMrequireMapp
roximatelyM120-150Mkcal/kg/day.
AMnurseMisMdevelopingMaMteachingMplanMforMtheMfamilyMofManMinfantMbeingMdischarg
edMhomeMwithMaMgastrostomyMtubeM(G-
tube).MWhichMofMtheMfollowingMstepsMshouldMbeMtakenMFIRST?M-
MAnswerMAssessMtheMfamily'sMcurrentMknowledgeMbase
Feedback
AssessmentMisMtheMfirstMstepMinMtheMnursingMprocess.MInMorderMtoMfacilitateMlearning,
MtheMlearner'sMknowledgeMandMskillsMshouldMbeMassessedMbeforeMaMteachingMplanMis
Mformed.
AMclientMhasMarrivedMatMtheMlaborMandMdeliveryMunitMinMactiveMlabor.MTheMnursingM
assessmentMrevealsMaMhistoryMofMgenitalMherpesMwithMactiveMlesionsMinMtheMgenitalMtr
actMatMpresent.MTheMnurseMplansMto:M-
MAnswerMPrepareMtheMclientMforMaMcesareanMdelivery
Feedback
AMcesareanMdeliveryMcanMreduceMtheMriskMofMneonatalMinfectionMwithMaMmotherMinMl
aborMwhoMhasMherpeticMgenitalMtractMlesions.MStandardMprecautionsMshouldMbeMmaintai
ned.
AM3-day-old,MformerM35-week-
gestationMfemaleMinfantMbornMtoMaMmotherMwithMaMhistoryMofMmethadoneMuseMisMbe
ginningMtoMshowMsignsMofMneonatalMabstinenceMsyndromeM(NAS).MNursingMsupportMmea
suresMforMthisMinfantMshouldMincludeMallMofMtheMfollowingMEXCEPT:M-
MAnswerMEncouragingMbottleMfeeding
Feedback
BreastfeedingMisMencouragedMforMbonding,MandMmayMalsoMhelpMalleviateMsomeMofMthe
Minfant'sMsymptomsMofMmethadoneMwithdrawal.MBottleMfeedingMshouldMonlyMbeMencour
agedMifMtheMinfantMisMnotMdemonstratingMadequateMweightMgainMwithMbreastfeedingMal
one,MorMifMtheMinfantMisMshowingMotherMadverseMreactionsMtoMbreastfeeding.MBreastfe
edingMshouldMnotMbeMencouragedMwhenMtheMmotherMhasMaMhistoryMofMillicitMdrugMu
se.
AMtermMinfantMisMdiagnosedMwithMintrauterineMgrowthMrestriction.MWhichMofMtheMfollo
wingMwouldMbeMaMprimaryMfactorMinMdeterminingMifMthisMinfant'sMgrowthMrestrictionMi
sMsymmetricalMorMasymmetrical?M-MAnswerMHeadMcircumference
Feedback
, SymmetricalMgrowthMrestrictionMresultsMinMheadMcircumferenceMproportionalMtoMinfantMb
odyMsizeMandMusuallyMrepresentsMfetalMetiologyMthatMspansMallMtrimesters.MAsymmetrica
lMgrowthMrestrictionMisMgenerallyMhead-
sparingMandMinfantsMwillMhaveMlargerMheadMcircumferenceMtoMbodyMsizeMratios.MAsym
metricalMgrowthMrestrictionMusuallyMrepresentsMmaternalMetiologiesMthatMaffectMthirdMtri
mesterMgrowthMandMdevelopment.
AnMobstetricMpractitionerMordersManMindirectMCoombsMtestMtoMdetermineMtheMpossibilit
yMofMmaternal-fetalMbloodMinteraction.MTheMnurseMshould:M-
MAnswerMDrawMtheMmother'sMblood
Feedback
AnMindirectMCoombsMtestMperformedMforMobstetricMpurposesMevaluatesMaMmother'sMblo
odM(usuallyMRhMnegative)MforMfree-
flowingMantibodiesMagainstMforeignMredMbloodMcellsM(usuallyMthoseMwithMpositiveMRhMf
actor).MAMdirectMCoombsMtestMisMperformedMonMtheMinfant'sMblood.
AMnurseMisMperformingManMassessmentMonMaM43-week-
gestationMmaleMinfant.MWhichMphysicalMcharacteristicMshouldMtheMnurseMexpectMtoMobs
erve?M-MAnswerMDesquamation
Feedback
TheMpost-
termMinfantM(bornMafterMtheM42ndMweekMofMgestation)MexhibitsMdry,Mpeeling,Mcracked,
MalmostMleather-likeMskinMoverMtheMbody,MwhichMisMcalledMdesquamation.
AM39-
weekMgestationMnewborn,MweighingM4.8MkgM(10.6Mlbs.)MwithMApgarMscoresMofM8MatM1
MminuteMandM9MatM5MminutesMfollowingMcesareanMdelivery,MisMexhibitingMtremorsMof
MtheMhandsMandMfeetMandManMincreasedMrespiratoryMrate.MThisMinfantMisMlikelyMdemo
nstrating:M-MAnswerMSymptomsMofMhypoglycemia
Feedback
LargeMinfantsMrequireMhigherMcaloricMintakeMtoMmaintainMtheirMglycogenMstores.MSympto
msMofMhypoglycemiaMcanMincludeMlimbMtremorsMandMtachypnea.
BasedMonMmaternalMhistoryMandMcurrentMpresentation,MaM6-day-
oldMtermMinfantMisMsuspectedMofMhavingMherpesMsimplexMmeningitis.MWhichMofMtheMfo
llowingMsetsMofMfindingsMisMlikelyMtoMappearMinMthisMpatient'sMcerebrospinalMfluidM(CSF
)?M-MAnswerMElevatedMRBCs,MnormalMglucose,MelevatedMprotein
Feedback
