Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse Exam Neonatal Neurological Assessment and Care 2

Question 1

The NICU nurse caring for an infant with HIE on therapeutic hypothermia should position the infant:

Accepted Answer

Supine with head midline and slightly elevated to 15–30 degrees

Answer

Head midline positioning with slight elevation reduces ICP and promotes venous drainage in infants with suspected brain injury.

Question 2

Amplitude-integrated EEG (aEEG) in the NICU is used primarily to:

Accepted Answer

Continuously monitor background cerebral activity and detect seizures

Answer

aEEG provides continuous bedside monitoring of cerebral electrical activity to detect seizures and assess brain function in at-risk neonates.

Question 3

Post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus after IVH is identified by:

Accepted Answer

Progressive head circumference increase, bulging fontanelle, and cranial ultrasound findings

Answer

Hydrocephalus after IVH causes CSF accumulation, progressive ventricular dilation seen on cranial ultrasound, and increasing head circumference.

Question 4

Cranial ultrasound screening for IVH should be performed in all infants born at:

Accepted Answer

Less than 30 weeks gestation

Answer

AAP guidelines recommend routine cranial ultrasound screening for all infants born before 30 weeks due to high IVH risk.

Question 5

Which primitive reflex is normally absent at birth and indicates neurological damage if present?

Accepted Answer

Asymmetric tonic neck reflex beyond 6 months

Answer

The asymmetric tonic neck reflex (ATNR) is normal in newborns but persistent beyond 6 months suggests upper motor neuron pathology.

Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse Exam Practice Test