Maternal Newborn Nursing Test Neonatal Complications and High-Risk Newborn

Question 1

A preterm infant at 28 weeks gestation is placed on a mechanical ventilator for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Which medication is typically administered to promote lung maturity before preterm birth?

Accepted Answer

Betamethasone (corticosteroid) to the mother

Answer

Antenatal corticosteroids (betamethasone or dexamethasone) given to the mother 24–48 hours before preterm birth stimulate fetal surfactant production and significantly reduce RDS severity.

Question 2

A 30-week preterm infant develops abdominal distension, blood in the stool, and feeding intolerance. Which condition should the nurse suspect?

Accepted Answer

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC)

Answer

Necrotizing enterocolitis is an acute intestinal inflammatory emergency in preterm infants presenting with abdominal distension, bloody stools, and feeding intolerance.

Question 3

A nurse is caring for a 32-week gestation newborn with respiratory distress syndrome. Surfactant replacement therapy is ordered. Via which route is surfactant administered?

Accepted Answer

Endotracheally

Answer

Exogenous surfactant is administered directly into the lungs via an endotracheal tube to replace deficient surfactant and improve alveolar stability in preterm infants.

Question 4

A newborn is born to a mother with insulin-dependent diabetes. Which complication is the newborn at HIGHEST risk for in the first hours of life?

Accepted Answer

Hypoglycemia

Answer

Infants of diabetic mothers have pancreatic beta-cell hyperplasia from chronic in utero hyperglycemia; after delivery they lose maternal glucose but continue producing excess insulin, causing hypoglycemia.

Question 5

A full-term newborn is diagnosed with transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN). Which delivery method puts a newborn at higher risk for TTN?

Accepted Answer

Elective cesarean section without labor

Answer

TTN occurs when fetal lung fluid is not adequately expelled; labor contractions and passage through the birth canal compress the chest and help clear lung fluid — skipped in elective cesarean.

Maternal Newborn Nursing Test Practice Test

Maternal Newborn Nursing Test Practice Test

Maternal Newborn Nursing Test Neonatal Complications and High-Risk Newborn