NU 131 EXAM 3 2026 | PRACTICE QUESTIONS, VERIFIED ANSWERS &
COMPLETE NURSING STUDY GUIDE
1. A nurse is assessing a newborn shortly after birth and explains to the
parents that the infant’s skull contains soft membranous areas between
several bones that allow the rapidly growing brain to expand. Which finding
should the nurse identify as the anterior fontanel?
A. A small triangular space located between the occipital bones
B. A diamond-shaped space located between the frontal and parietal bones
C. A firm ridge that extends along the sagittal suture
D. A circular depression located behind the infant’s ears
Answer: B
2. During a routine newborn assessment, the nurse observes that the infant’s
hands and feet have a bluish coloration while the trunk and lips remain pink
and the infant is otherwise stable. Which interpretation is most
appropriate?
A. The infant is demonstrating acrocyanosis that can occur normally shortly
after birth
B. The infant is experiencing central cyanosis requiring immediate oxygen
administration
C. The infant is demonstrating severe hypothermia caused by respiratory
distress
D. The infant is showing evidence of congenital cardiac failure
Answer: A
3. A nurse is educating new parents about expected newborn gastrointestinal
findings during the first several days after birth. The parents ask about the
thick, greenish-black stool that they observed in the diaper. Which response
by the nurse is most appropriate?
A. “This stool indicates that your infant is developing intestinal obstruction.”
B. “This stool is caused by formula intolerance and should disappear after
feeding changes.”
C. “This is meconium, the normal first stool produced by a newborn.”
pg. 1
, D. “This is transitional stool and usually appears after several weeks of
feeding.”
Answer: C
4. A newborn suddenly experiences a loud environmental stimulus while lying
supine. The infant responds by extending and abducting the arms, opening
the hands, and then bringing the arms inward. Which reflex is the nurse
observing?
A. Rooting reflex
B. Babinski reflex
C. Tonic neck reflex
D. Moro reflex
Answer: D
5. During a newborn assessment, the nurse gently strokes the infant’s cheek
and observes that the infant turns the head toward the stimulated side and
opens the mouth. Which reflex should the nurse document?
A. Rooting reflex
B. Palmar grasp reflex
C. Moro reflex
D. Babinski reflex
Answer: A
6. A parent asks the nurse why the newborn makes a sucking motion when
the infant’s lips or tongue are touched. Which explanation is most
appropriate?
A. The response is evidence that the infant has developed voluntary oral
coordination.
B. The response is a normal primitive reflex that supports feeding.
C. The response occurs only when the newborn is hungry enough to cry.
D. The response is an early manifestation of the tonic neck reflex.
Answer: B
7. A nurse places a finger in the palm of a healthy newborn and observes that
the infant briefly closes the fingers around it. Which assessment finding
pg. 2
, does this represent?
A. Babinski response
B. Moro response
C. Palmar grasp reflex
D. Rooting response
Answer: C
8. During a newborn neurological examination, the nurse strokes the sole of
the infant’s foot and observes extension and fanning of the toes. Which
finding should the nurse recognize?
A. A positive Babinski reflex that can be expected in a newborn
B. An abnormal neurological response indicating cerebral injury
C. A positive plantar reflex that should disappear immediately after birth
D. An indication that the infant has developed voluntary motor control
Answer: A
9. A nurse is explaining normal growth patterns to parents of a healthy infant.
Which statement correctly describes the expected pattern of infant weight
gain during the first year?
A. Birth weight is usually tripled by approximately 6 months.
B. Birth weight remains relatively unchanged during the first year.
C. Birth weight generally doubles by about 5 to 6 months and triples by
approximately 1 year.
D. Birth weight generally quadruples by approximately 12 months.
Answer: C
10. A nurse is assessing a newborn whose head appears slightly elongated
immediately after a vaginal delivery. The parents are concerned that the
skull shape is abnormal. Which response is most appropriate?
A. “This finding always indicates increased intracranial pressure.”
B. “This shape can occur because of molding during the birth process.”
C. “This indicates that the infant has a congenital skull disorder.”
D. “The skull should be manually reshaped before discharge.”
Answer: B
pg. 3
, 11. A nurse is teaching parents about infant growth and development and
explains that development generally progresses in a predictable directional
pattern. Which example best demonstrates cephalocaudal development?
A. An infant gaining control of the fingers before the shoulders
B. An infant gaining control of the head before developing control of the
legs
C. An infant developing hand coordination before learning to sit
D. An infant developing toe movements before gaining head control
Answer: B
12. A nurse is explaining proximodistal development to parents who are
concerned that their infant cannot yet perform precise finger movements.
Which statement best describes this developmental principle?
A. Development progresses from the head toward the feet.
B. Development occurs from simple behaviors toward complex behaviors.
C. Development progresses from the center of the body toward the
extremities.
D. Development occurs from reflexive behavior toward voluntary behavior
only.
Answer: C
13. During an infant assessment, the nurse reviews expected gross motor
development. Which milestone would be most appropriate to expect at
approximately 7 months?
A. Walking independently across the room
B. Sitting independently without support
C. Running while changing direction
D. Climbing stairs using alternating feet
Answer: B
14. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to parents of a healthy infant
who is approximately 4 months old. Which gross motor skill would be most
consistent with expected development?
A. Rolling from the abdomen to the back
pg. 4
COMPLETE NURSING STUDY GUIDE
1. A nurse is assessing a newborn shortly after birth and explains to the
parents that the infant’s skull contains soft membranous areas between
several bones that allow the rapidly growing brain to expand. Which finding
should the nurse identify as the anterior fontanel?
A. A small triangular space located between the occipital bones
B. A diamond-shaped space located between the frontal and parietal bones
C. A firm ridge that extends along the sagittal suture
D. A circular depression located behind the infant’s ears
Answer: B
2. During a routine newborn assessment, the nurse observes that the infant’s
hands and feet have a bluish coloration while the trunk and lips remain pink
and the infant is otherwise stable. Which interpretation is most
appropriate?
A. The infant is demonstrating acrocyanosis that can occur normally shortly
after birth
B. The infant is experiencing central cyanosis requiring immediate oxygen
administration
C. The infant is demonstrating severe hypothermia caused by respiratory
distress
D. The infant is showing evidence of congenital cardiac failure
Answer: A
3. A nurse is educating new parents about expected newborn gastrointestinal
findings during the first several days after birth. The parents ask about the
thick, greenish-black stool that they observed in the diaper. Which response
by the nurse is most appropriate?
A. “This stool indicates that your infant is developing intestinal obstruction.”
B. “This stool is caused by formula intolerance and should disappear after
feeding changes.”
C. “This is meconium, the normal first stool produced by a newborn.”
pg. 1
, D. “This is transitional stool and usually appears after several weeks of
feeding.”
Answer: C
4. A newborn suddenly experiences a loud environmental stimulus while lying
supine. The infant responds by extending and abducting the arms, opening
the hands, and then bringing the arms inward. Which reflex is the nurse
observing?
A. Rooting reflex
B. Babinski reflex
C. Tonic neck reflex
D. Moro reflex
Answer: D
5. During a newborn assessment, the nurse gently strokes the infant’s cheek
and observes that the infant turns the head toward the stimulated side and
opens the mouth. Which reflex should the nurse document?
A. Rooting reflex
B. Palmar grasp reflex
C. Moro reflex
D. Babinski reflex
Answer: A
6. A parent asks the nurse why the newborn makes a sucking motion when
the infant’s lips or tongue are touched. Which explanation is most
appropriate?
A. The response is evidence that the infant has developed voluntary oral
coordination.
B. The response is a normal primitive reflex that supports feeding.
C. The response occurs only when the newborn is hungry enough to cry.
D. The response is an early manifestation of the tonic neck reflex.
Answer: B
7. A nurse places a finger in the palm of a healthy newborn and observes that
the infant briefly closes the fingers around it. Which assessment finding
pg. 2
, does this represent?
A. Babinski response
B. Moro response
C. Palmar grasp reflex
D. Rooting response
Answer: C
8. During a newborn neurological examination, the nurse strokes the sole of
the infant’s foot and observes extension and fanning of the toes. Which
finding should the nurse recognize?
A. A positive Babinski reflex that can be expected in a newborn
B. An abnormal neurological response indicating cerebral injury
C. A positive plantar reflex that should disappear immediately after birth
D. An indication that the infant has developed voluntary motor control
Answer: A
9. A nurse is explaining normal growth patterns to parents of a healthy infant.
Which statement correctly describes the expected pattern of infant weight
gain during the first year?
A. Birth weight is usually tripled by approximately 6 months.
B. Birth weight remains relatively unchanged during the first year.
C. Birth weight generally doubles by about 5 to 6 months and triples by
approximately 1 year.
D. Birth weight generally quadruples by approximately 12 months.
Answer: C
10. A nurse is assessing a newborn whose head appears slightly elongated
immediately after a vaginal delivery. The parents are concerned that the
skull shape is abnormal. Which response is most appropriate?
A. “This finding always indicates increased intracranial pressure.”
B. “This shape can occur because of molding during the birth process.”
C. “This indicates that the infant has a congenital skull disorder.”
D. “The skull should be manually reshaped before discharge.”
Answer: B
pg. 3
, 11. A nurse is teaching parents about infant growth and development and
explains that development generally progresses in a predictable directional
pattern. Which example best demonstrates cephalocaudal development?
A. An infant gaining control of the fingers before the shoulders
B. An infant gaining control of the head before developing control of the
legs
C. An infant developing hand coordination before learning to sit
D. An infant developing toe movements before gaining head control
Answer: B
12. A nurse is explaining proximodistal development to parents who are
concerned that their infant cannot yet perform precise finger movements.
Which statement best describes this developmental principle?
A. Development progresses from the head toward the feet.
B. Development occurs from simple behaviors toward complex behaviors.
C. Development progresses from the center of the body toward the
extremities.
D. Development occurs from reflexive behavior toward voluntary behavior
only.
Answer: C
13. During an infant assessment, the nurse reviews expected gross motor
development. Which milestone would be most appropriate to expect at
approximately 7 months?
A. Walking independently across the room
B. Sitting independently without support
C. Running while changing direction
D. Climbing stairs using alternating feet
Answer: B
14. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to parents of a healthy infant
who is approximately 4 months old. Which gross motor skill would be most
consistent with expected development?
A. Rolling from the abdomen to the back
pg. 4
