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
A preterm infant at 28 weeks gestation is placed on mechanical ventilation. Which ventilator parameter directly controls oxygenation?
Answer: FiO2 and PEEP
FiO2 and PEEP are the primary ventilator parameters that control oxygenation in mechanically ventilated neonates.
Which finding is the earliest sign of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in a newborn?
Answer: Grunting on expiration
Expiratory grunting is an early compensatory mechanism to maintain functional residual capacity in RDS.
A nurse is caring for a neonate on CPAP. The target SpO2 range for a 26-week gestation infant is:
Answer: 91–95%
The recommended SpO2 target for preterm neonates is 91–95% to balance adequate oxygenation with minimizing oxygen toxicity.
Surfactant replacement therapy is MOST indicated for which condition?
Answer: Respiratory distress syndrome
Surfactant replacement therapy is the primary treatment for RDS caused by surfactant deficiency in preterm infants.
During a ventilator assessment, the NICU nurse notes rising PaCO2 on blood gas. Which intervention addresses hypercapnia?
Answer: Increase ventilator rate or tidal volume
Hypercapnia (elevated PaCO2) is corrected by increasing minute ventilation through higher rate or tidal volume.
A neonate develops a sudden deterioration in oxygen saturation, decreased breath sounds on the left, and shift of heart sounds to the right. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Answer: Left-sided pneumothorax
Decreased left breath sounds with rightward mediastinal shift indicates a left-sided pneumothorax causing tension physiology.