Low Risk Neonatal Nurse Exam Low Risk Neonatal Nurse Exam Newborn Nutrition & Breastfeeding Support 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A mother asks how to store expressed breast milk at room temperature. What is the correct nurse response?
- Up to 4 hours at room temperature (≤77°F) (Correct answer)
- Up to 24 hours at room temperature
- Must be refrigerated immediately after expression
- Store for up to 8 hours if the room is cool
Correct answer: Up to 4 hours at room temperature (≤77°F)
Freshly expressed breast milk can safely remain at room temperature up to 77°F for up to 4 hours.
Question 2: Which reflex, when elicited, confirms an infant is ready to feed?
- Moro reflex
- Rooting reflex (Correct answer)
- Babinski reflex
- Palmar grasp reflex
Correct answer: Rooting reflex
The rooting reflex causes the newborn to turn toward a stimulus at the cheek, signaling readiness to latch and feed.
Question 3: A breastfeeding mother reports cracked, bleeding nipples. Which intervention is most appropriate?
- Recommend stopping breastfeeding for 48 hours
- Assess and correct latch technique; apply expressed breast milk to nipples (Correct answer)
- Prescribe antibiotics prophylactically
- Switch to formula until nipples heal
Correct answer: Assess and correct latch technique; apply expressed breast milk to nipples
Correcting latch is the primary intervention for nipple trauma; expressed breast milk promotes healing due to its antimicrobial properties.
Question 4: What is the caloric content of standard term infant formula?
- 10 kcal/oz
- 20 kcal/oz (Correct answer)
- 24 kcal/oz
- 30 kcal/oz
Correct answer: 20 kcal/oz
Standard term infant formula provides 20 kcal/oz, mimicking the approximate caloric density of mature breast milk.
Question 5: Which sign indicates effective milk transfer during breastfeeding?
- Infant makes frequent smacking sounds
- Audible swallowing heard after initial rapid sucking bursts (Correct answer)
- Infant falls asleep within 2 minutes of latching
- Mother reports tingling sensation only
Correct answer: Audible swallowing heard after initial rapid sucking bursts
Audible swallowing after the initial fast suck bursts confirms that the infant is transferring milk effectively.
Question 6: A nurse teaches a new mother about cluster feeding. Which statement best explains this behavior?
- It indicates the infant is not getting enough milk and formula should be added
- It is a normal pattern where the infant feeds very frequently for a period, often in the evening (Correct answer)
- Cluster feeding is a sign of developmental delay
- It occurs only during growth spurts and should be discouraged
Correct answer: It is a normal pattern where the infant feeds very frequently for a period, often in the evening
Cluster feeding is a normal behavior where a newborn feeds very frequently over a few hours, commonly in the evening, to boost milk supply.
A mother asks how to store expressed breast milk at room temperature.
What is the correct nurse response?