Neonatal Respiratory Management Flashcards
6 cards from real RNC-NIC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Neonatal Respiratory Management flashcards as text
Which arterial blood gas value indicates respiratory acidosis in a neonate?
Answer: pH 7.25, PaCO2 58 mmHg
Respiratory acidosis is characterized by a low pH (<7.35) with an elevated PaCO2, indicating inadequate ventilation.
High-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) is distinguished from conventional ventilation by:
Answer: Using very small tidal volumes at high frequencies
HFOV delivers very small tidal volumes (often less than dead space) at frequencies of 3–15 Hz to minimize lung injury.
A nurse preparing to administer surfactant via ET tube should position the infant:
Answer: Supine with head midline
Supine with the head midline ensures the ET tube is centered and surfactant is distributed evenly to both lungs.
Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is characterized by:
Answer: Elevated pulmonary vascular resistance causing right-to-left shunting
PPHN involves failure of normal postnatal pulmonary vascular resistance reduction, causing right-to-left shunting through fetal channels.
Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) is used in the NICU primarily to treat:
Answer: Persistent pulmonary hypertension
iNO selectively dilates pulmonary vasculature, reducing pulmonary vascular resistance and improving oxygenation in PPHN.
Which assessment finding best indicates a neonate requires suctioning of the airway?
Answer: Audible secretions, increased work of breathing, or decreased SpO2
Suctioning should be clinically indicated by signs of airway obstruction such as audible secretions, respiratory distress, or desaturation.