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KAPLAN NEWBORN NURSING ASSESSMENT 2026/2027
COMPLETE (100) CURRENT TESTING QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES.
NEWBORN
Prepare for the Kaplan Newborn Nursing Assessment with a focused study resource
covering essential concepts in newborn care and nursing assessment. It supports
review of newborn assessment, normal findings, physiological adaptation, feeding,
safety, and common nursing considerations during the neonatal period. Use the
material to reinforce key concepts, strengthen clinical reasoning, and identify areas
that may require additional study. This resource is best suited for nursing students
preparing for the Kaplan Newborn Nursing Assessment and reviewing newborn care
concepts.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
1. A newborn is assessed at 1 minute and 5 minutes of life. Which of the
following parameters is NOT a component of the Apgar score?
• A) Heart rate
• B) Respiratory effort
• C) Blood pressure
• D) Reflex irritability
Answer: C
Rationale: The Apgar score assesses five parameters: heart rate,
respiratory effort, muscle tone, reflex irritability, and color. Blood
pressure is not a component of the Apgar score. The score is assigned at 1
and 5 minutes to evaluate the newborn's transition to extrauterine life.
2. A newborn has a 1-minute Apgar score of 4. The nurse should interpret
this as:
• A) No distress
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• B) Moderate distress
• C) Severe distress
• D) Requiring only routine care
Answer: B
Rationale: An Apgar score of 4 to 6 indicates moderate distress (the infant
is moderately depressed). Scores of 7 to 10 are normal, and scores of 0 to
3 indicate severe distress requiring immediate resuscitation. This infant
requires stimulation and oxygen, not just routine care.
3. The nurse is performing a gestational age assessment using the Ballard
(New Ballard) scoring system. Which two categories are evaluated?
• A) Weight and length
• B) Physical maturity and neuromuscular maturity
• C) Head circumference and chest circumference
• D) Vital signs and reflexes
Answer: B
Rationale: The Ballard score assesses physical maturity (e.g., skin
texture, lanugo, plantar creases) and neuromuscular maturity (e.g.,
posture, arm recoil, angle of the popliteal). Weight and length are
anthropometric measurements but are not part of the Ballard score itself,
though they correlate with growth percentiles.
4. During a newborn physical assessment, the nurse palpates the anterior
fontanel. Which finding is considered normal?
• A) Bulging and tense
• B) Depressed and sunken
• C) Flat and soft
• D) Closed and bony
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Answer: C
Rationale: A normal anterior fontanel is flat, soft, and slightly depressed
to the touch. It should be at the level of the skull bones. A bulging, tense
fontanel suggests increased intracranial pressure; a depressed/sunken
fontanel indicates dehydration. The anterior fontanel typically closes
between 12 to 18 months of age.
5. A newborn is noted to have a heart rate of 90 beats per minute and is
cyanotic at 5 minutes of life. The nurse's priority action is:
• A) Continue routine observation
• B) Administer positive-pressure ventilation
• C) Place the infant skin-to-skin with the mother
• D) Initiate chest compressions
Answer: B
Rationale: Per the Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP), if the heart rate
is below 100 bpm, the infant requires positive-pressure ventilation (PPV).
Chest compressions are indicated if the heart rate remains <60 bpm
despite adequate PPV. The infant is not responding adequately and requires
immediate intervention.
6. Which newborn reflex is elicited by stroking the lateral sole of the foot
from the heel to the toes, resulting in the toes fanning outward and the big
toe dorsiflexing?
• A) Moro reflex
• B) Babinski reflex
• C) Grasp reflex
• D) Rooting reflex
Answer: B
Rationale: The Babinski reflex (or plantar grasp) is elicited by stroking the
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lateral sole. A positive response is fanning of the toes and dorsiflexion of
the big toe, which is normal in newborns. The Moro reflex is the startle
response; the grasp reflex involves the palm; rooting involves stroking the
cheek.
7. A newborn is placed on the mother's chest and begins to turn its head
toward the nipple, opening its mouth. This sequence demonstrates which
reflexes?
• A) Moro and tonic neck
• B) Rooting and sucking
• C) Babinski and stepping
• D) Grasp and gag
Answer: B
Rationale: Rooting is the reflex that causes the newborn to turn its head
toward a stimulus on the cheek, and sucking is the reflex that follows
when the nipple or finger is placed in the mouth. These are essential
feeding reflexes. The other reflexes are unrelated to feeding behaviors.
8. A nurse is assessing a 12-hour-old newborn and notes a heart rate of
160 bpm, respiratory rate of 50 breaths/min, and a temperature of 37.0°C
(98.6°F). Which of the following is the correct interpretation?
• A) Tachycardia and tachypnea, requiring intervention
• B) Normal vital signs for a newborn
• C) Bradycardia requiring assessment
• D) Hypothermia requiring a warming blanket
Answer: B
Rationale: Normal newborn vital signs include a heart rate of 110–160 bpm
(sleeping) or up to 180 bpm (crying), respiratory rate of 30–60 breaths/min,
KAPLAN NEWBORN NURSING ASSESSMENT 2026/2027
COMPLETE (100) CURRENT TESTING QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES.
NEWBORN
Prepare for the Kaplan Newborn Nursing Assessment with a focused study resource
covering essential concepts in newborn care and nursing assessment. It supports
review of newborn assessment, normal findings, physiological adaptation, feeding,
safety, and common nursing considerations during the neonatal period. Use the
material to reinforce key concepts, strengthen clinical reasoning, and identify areas
that may require additional study. This resource is best suited for nursing students
preparing for the Kaplan Newborn Nursing Assessment and reviewing newborn care
concepts.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
1. A newborn is assessed at 1 minute and 5 minutes of life. Which of the
following parameters is NOT a component of the Apgar score?
• A) Heart rate
• B) Respiratory effort
• C) Blood pressure
• D) Reflex irritability
Answer: C
Rationale: The Apgar score assesses five parameters: heart rate,
respiratory effort, muscle tone, reflex irritability, and color. Blood
pressure is not a component of the Apgar score. The score is assigned at 1
and 5 minutes to evaluate the newborn's transition to extrauterine life.
2. A newborn has a 1-minute Apgar score of 4. The nurse should interpret
this as:
• A) No distress
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• B) Moderate distress
• C) Severe distress
• D) Requiring only routine care
Answer: B
Rationale: An Apgar score of 4 to 6 indicates moderate distress (the infant
is moderately depressed). Scores of 7 to 10 are normal, and scores of 0 to
3 indicate severe distress requiring immediate resuscitation. This infant
requires stimulation and oxygen, not just routine care.
3. The nurse is performing a gestational age assessment using the Ballard
(New Ballard) scoring system. Which two categories are evaluated?
• A) Weight and length
• B) Physical maturity and neuromuscular maturity
• C) Head circumference and chest circumference
• D) Vital signs and reflexes
Answer: B
Rationale: The Ballard score assesses physical maturity (e.g., skin
texture, lanugo, plantar creases) and neuromuscular maturity (e.g.,
posture, arm recoil, angle of the popliteal). Weight and length are
anthropometric measurements but are not part of the Ballard score itself,
though they correlate with growth percentiles.
4. During a newborn physical assessment, the nurse palpates the anterior
fontanel. Which finding is considered normal?
• A) Bulging and tense
• B) Depressed and sunken
• C) Flat and soft
• D) Closed and bony
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Answer: C
Rationale: A normal anterior fontanel is flat, soft, and slightly depressed
to the touch. It should be at the level of the skull bones. A bulging, tense
fontanel suggests increased intracranial pressure; a depressed/sunken
fontanel indicates dehydration. The anterior fontanel typically closes
between 12 to 18 months of age.
5. A newborn is noted to have a heart rate of 90 beats per minute and is
cyanotic at 5 minutes of life. The nurse's priority action is:
• A) Continue routine observation
• B) Administer positive-pressure ventilation
• C) Place the infant skin-to-skin with the mother
• D) Initiate chest compressions
Answer: B
Rationale: Per the Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP), if the heart rate
is below 100 bpm, the infant requires positive-pressure ventilation (PPV).
Chest compressions are indicated if the heart rate remains <60 bpm
despite adequate PPV. The infant is not responding adequately and requires
immediate intervention.
6. Which newborn reflex is elicited by stroking the lateral sole of the foot
from the heel to the toes, resulting in the toes fanning outward and the big
toe dorsiflexing?
• A) Moro reflex
• B) Babinski reflex
• C) Grasp reflex
• D) Rooting reflex
Answer: B
Rationale: The Babinski reflex (or plantar grasp) is elicited by stroking the
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lateral sole. A positive response is fanning of the toes and dorsiflexion of
the big toe, which is normal in newborns. The Moro reflex is the startle
response; the grasp reflex involves the palm; rooting involves stroking the
cheek.
7. A newborn is placed on the mother's chest and begins to turn its head
toward the nipple, opening its mouth. This sequence demonstrates which
reflexes?
• A) Moro and tonic neck
• B) Rooting and sucking
• C) Babinski and stepping
• D) Grasp and gag
Answer: B
Rationale: Rooting is the reflex that causes the newborn to turn its head
toward a stimulus on the cheek, and sucking is the reflex that follows
when the nipple or finger is placed in the mouth. These are essential
feeding reflexes. The other reflexes are unrelated to feeding behaviors.
8. A nurse is assessing a 12-hour-old newborn and notes a heart rate of
160 bpm, respiratory rate of 50 breaths/min, and a temperature of 37.0°C
(98.6°F). Which of the following is the correct interpretation?
• A) Tachycardia and tachypnea, requiring intervention
• B) Normal vital signs for a newborn
• C) Bradycardia requiring assessment
• D) Hypothermia requiring a warming blanket
Answer: B
Rationale: Normal newborn vital signs include a heart rate of 110–160 bpm
(sleeping) or up to 180 bpm (crying), respiratory rate of 30–60 breaths/min,
