Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse Exam Neonatal Thermoregulation and Fluid Balance

Question 1

A preterm infant in an open radiant warmer has excessive insensible water losses primarily due to:

Accepted Answer

Thin, immature skin with high transepidermal water loss

Answer

Preterm infants have thin, poorly keratinized skin with minimal subcutaneous fat, causing dramatically elevated transepidermal water loss.

Question 2

The thermoneutral zone for a neonate is defined as:

Accepted Answer

The environmental temperature range in which metabolic rate is minimal and body temperature is normal

Answer

The thermoneutral zone minimizes metabolic oxygen consumption while maintaining normal body temperature through minimal thermogenesis.

Question 3

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) in neonates is used for:

Accepted Answer

Non-shivering thermogenesis to generate heat

Answer

Neonates cannot shiver effectively; they rely on BAT metabolism (non-shivering thermogenesis) mediated by norepinephrine to generate heat.

Question 4

Which sign indicates hypothermia in a neonate?

Accepted Answer

Peripheral vasoconstriction, lethargy, poor feeding, and acrocyanosis

Answer

Cold stress causes peripheral vasoconstriction to conserve heat; neonates respond with lethargy, poor feeding, and acrocyanosis.

Question 5

The normal urine output for a neonate after the first 24 hours of life is:

Accepted Answer

1–3 mL/kg/hour

Answer

Normal neonatal urine output of 1–3 mL/kg/hour reflects adequate hydration and renal perfusion after initial physiologic oliguria.

Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse Exam Practice Test