Maternal-Child McKinney Ch 29: The
High-Risk Newborn: Problems Related
to Gestational Age and Development
Test Bank Questions Fully Solved.
1. What is most helpful in preventing premature birth?
a. High socioeconomic status
b. Adequate prenatal care
c. Transitional Assistance to Needy Families
d. Women, Infants, and Children nutritional program - Answer ANS: B
Prenatal care is vital in identifying possible problems. Women from higher economic status are
more likely to seek adequate prenatal care, but it is the care that is most helpful. Government
programs help with specific needs of the pregnant woman, but adequate care is more
important.
2. Compared to the term infant, the preterm infant has
a. few blood vessels visible through the skin.
b. more subcutaneous fat.
c. well-developed flexor muscles.
d. greater surface area in proportion to weight. - Answer ANS: D
Preterm infants have greater surface area in proportion to their weight. They often have visible
blood vessels because their skin is thin and they have less fat. More fat and well- developed
flexor muscles are characteristic of a more mature infant.
3. Decreased surfactant production in the preterm lung is a problem because surfactant
a. causes increased permeability of the alveoli.
b. provides transportation for oxygen to enter the blood supply.
c. keeps the alveoli open during expiration.
d. dilates the bronchioles, decreasing airway resistance. - Answer ANS: C
Surfactant prevents the alveoli from collapsing each time the infant exhales, thus reducing the
work of breathing. It does not cause increased permeability, provide transportation of oxygen or
dilate the bronchioles.
, b. Reassure the parents that the baby is progressing well.
c. Encourage the parents to touch her.
d. Discuss the care they will give her when she goes home. - Answer ANS: C
Physical contact with the infant is important to establish early bonding. The nurse as the
support person and teacher is responsible for shaping the environment and making the care
giving responsive to the needs of both the parents and the infant. The nurse should encourage
the parents to touch their baby and show them how to do so safely. Bonding needs to occur,
and this can be fostered by encouraging the parents to spend time with the infant. It is
important to keep the parents informed about the infant's progression, but the nurse needs to
be honest with the explanations. Discussing home care needs to wait until the parents are ready
and discharge is closer with known needs.
5. A nurse is caring for a late preterm infant. What action by the nurse is inconsistent with best
practice to prevent cold stress?
a. Wean the infant directly to an open crib.
b. Check temperature every 3 to 4 hours.
c. Encourage kangaroo care.
d. Place infant on a radiant warmer. - Answer ANS: A
Weaning to an open crib takes many steps and is not done directly because of the risk of cold
stress. The other actions help prevent cold stress.
6. Which preterm infant should receive gavage feedings instead of a bottle?
a. Sometimes gags when a feeding tube is inserted
b. Is unable to coordinate sucking and swallowing
c. Sucks on a pacifier during gavage feedings
d. Has an axillary temperature of 98.4° F, an apical pulse of 149 beats/min, and respirations of
54 breaths/min - Answer ANS: B
An infant who cannot coordinate sucking, swallowing, and breathing should receive gavage
feedings. The other infants are ready for bottle feedings.
7. Overstimulation may cause increased oxygen use in a preterm infant. Which nursing
intervention helps to avoid this problem?
a. Group all care activities together to provide long periods of rest.
b. While giving your report to the next nurse, stand in front of the incubator and talk
softly about how the infant responds to stimulation.
High-Risk Newborn: Problems Related
to Gestational Age and Development
Test Bank Questions Fully Solved.
1. What is most helpful in preventing premature birth?
a. High socioeconomic status
b. Adequate prenatal care
c. Transitional Assistance to Needy Families
d. Women, Infants, and Children nutritional program - Answer ANS: B
Prenatal care is vital in identifying possible problems. Women from higher economic status are
more likely to seek adequate prenatal care, but it is the care that is most helpful. Government
programs help with specific needs of the pregnant woman, but adequate care is more
important.
2. Compared to the term infant, the preterm infant has
a. few blood vessels visible through the skin.
b. more subcutaneous fat.
c. well-developed flexor muscles.
d. greater surface area in proportion to weight. - Answer ANS: D
Preterm infants have greater surface area in proportion to their weight. They often have visible
blood vessels because their skin is thin and they have less fat. More fat and well- developed
flexor muscles are characteristic of a more mature infant.
3. Decreased surfactant production in the preterm lung is a problem because surfactant
a. causes increased permeability of the alveoli.
b. provides transportation for oxygen to enter the blood supply.
c. keeps the alveoli open during expiration.
d. dilates the bronchioles, decreasing airway resistance. - Answer ANS: C
Surfactant prevents the alveoli from collapsing each time the infant exhales, thus reducing the
work of breathing. It does not cause increased permeability, provide transportation of oxygen or
dilate the bronchioles.
, b. Reassure the parents that the baby is progressing well.
c. Encourage the parents to touch her.
d. Discuss the care they will give her when she goes home. - Answer ANS: C
Physical contact with the infant is important to establish early bonding. The nurse as the
support person and teacher is responsible for shaping the environment and making the care
giving responsive to the needs of both the parents and the infant. The nurse should encourage
the parents to touch their baby and show them how to do so safely. Bonding needs to occur,
and this can be fostered by encouraging the parents to spend time with the infant. It is
important to keep the parents informed about the infant's progression, but the nurse needs to
be honest with the explanations. Discussing home care needs to wait until the parents are ready
and discharge is closer with known needs.
5. A nurse is caring for a late preterm infant. What action by the nurse is inconsistent with best
practice to prevent cold stress?
a. Wean the infant directly to an open crib.
b. Check temperature every 3 to 4 hours.
c. Encourage kangaroo care.
d. Place infant on a radiant warmer. - Answer ANS: A
Weaning to an open crib takes many steps and is not done directly because of the risk of cold
stress. The other actions help prevent cold stress.
6. Which preterm infant should receive gavage feedings instead of a bottle?
a. Sometimes gags when a feeding tube is inserted
b. Is unable to coordinate sucking and swallowing
c. Sucks on a pacifier during gavage feedings
d. Has an axillary temperature of 98.4° F, an apical pulse of 149 beats/min, and respirations of
54 breaths/min - Answer ANS: B
An infant who cannot coordinate sucking, swallowing, and breathing should receive gavage
feedings. The other infants are ready for bottle feedings.
7. Overstimulation may cause increased oxygen use in a preterm infant. Which nursing
intervention helps to avoid this problem?
a. Group all care activities together to provide long periods of rest.
b. While giving your report to the next nurse, stand in front of the incubator and talk
softly about how the infant responds to stimulation.
