Low Risk Neonatal Nurse Exam Neonatal Jaundice & Hyperbilirubinemia

Question 1

Jaundice appearing within the first 24 hours of life is always considered:

Accepted Answer

Pathologic and requiring immediate evaluation

Answer

Physiologic and expected

Answer

A sign of normal liver maturation

Answer

Benign if the infant is feeding well

Question 2

Which tool provides hour-specific bilirubin thresholds to guide phototherapy decisions in newborns?

Accepted Answer

Bhutani nomogram (hour-specific bilirubin nomogram)

Answer

APGAR scoring system

Answer

Dubowitz score

Answer

Ballard gestational age scale

Question 3

What is the primary mechanism by which phototherapy reduces neonatal hyperbilirubinemia?

Accepted Answer

Converts unconjugated bilirubin into water-soluble isomers that can be excreted without hepatic conjugation

Answer

Increases albumin binding capacity for bilirubin

Answer

Stimulates hepatic glucuronyl transferase activity

Answer

Increases renal bilirubin clearance

Question 4

Which mother-infant blood type combination most commonly causes ABO incompatibility hemolytic disease?

Accepted Answer

Mother type O, infant type A or B

Answer

Mother type A, infant type B

Answer

Mother type AB, infant type O

Answer

Mother type B, infant type A

Question 5

What is kernicterus?

Accepted Answer

Bilirubin-induced neurological dysfunction resulting from unconjugated bilirubin crossing the blood-brain barrier

Answer

A specialized phototherapy device for treating severe jaundice

Answer

A complication of exchange transfusion in neonates

Answer

A genetic enzyme deficiency causing prolonged neonatal jaundice

Question 6

Which feeding practice is most effective in reducing physiologic jaundice in breastfed newborns?

Accepted Answer

Frequent breastfeeding 8–12 times per day to promote meconium passage and reduce enterohepatic recirculation

Answer

Supplementing every other feeding with formula

Answer

Restricting feedings to every 4–6 hours to allow intestinal rest

Answer

Delaying breastfeeding until bilirubin peaks and begins declining

Question 7

The Kramer scale is used by neonatal nurses to assess what?

Accepted Answer

The cephalocaudal progression of jaundice from the head downward to estimate bilirubin level

Answer

Gestational age based on physical and neuromuscular maturity

Answer

Severity of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome

Answer

Level of neonatal pain during procedures