NPS Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield NPS facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. A pediatric patient in status asthmaticus fails initial bronchodilator therapy. Which IV medication is administered next? → Magnesium sulfate
2. Which vaccination is specifically recommended for all healthcare workers in the NICU as part of a 'cocooning' strategy to protect neonates from pertussis? → Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis) booster
3. What is the correct dose of epinephrine for neonatal cardiac arrest via the endotracheal route? → 0.05–0.1 mg/kg
4. A preterm neonate requires indomethacin for PDA closure. Which lab value must be monitored most closely? → Serum creatinine
5. Which ethical obligation requires healthcare providers to disclose all relevant information to parents so they can make informed decisions for their neonate? → Informed consent
6. During neonatal transport, maintaining normothermia is critical. What is the target core temperature range for a sick neonate? → 36–37.5°C
7. Which of the following is a sign of increased work of breathing in a pediatric patient? → Subcostal retractions
8. What is the normal PaCO2 range targeted during mechanical ventilation of a neonate with RDS? → 35–45 mmHg
9. Which approach best describes the standard for surrogate decision-making for neonates? → Best interest standard — parents decide what is in the neonate's best interest
10. What is the minimum recommended positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) for mechanically ventilated neonates with RDS? → 4–6 cmH2O
11. A 28-week gestational age neonate presents with grunting, nasal flaring, and intercostal retractions. What is the most likely diagnosis? → Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS)
12. Kangaroo care (skin-to-skin contact) in the NICU has been shown to have which evidence-based benefit? → Improved temperature regulation, breastfeeding rates, and neurodevelopmental outcomes
13. Which surfactant is administered intratracheally as a natural bovine-derived preparation for neonatal RDS? → All of the above
14. A neonate is confirmed to have RSV bronchiolitis. What isolation precautions should be implemented? → Contact and droplet precautions combined
15. What is the correct sequence for managing a neonate with meconium-stained amniotic fluid who is non-vigorous at birth? → Initiate PPV immediately without tracheal suctioning
16. Which model of care best supports family involvement during rounds in the NICU? → Family-integrated care (FICare) with parents participating in daily bedside rounds
17. A 4-year-old child presents in status epilepticus lasting 10 minutes. What is the first-line pharmacologic intervention? → IV/IM/intranasal benzodiazepine (e.g., lorazepam, midazolam)
18. Late-onset sepsis in premature neonates is most commonly caused by which organism? → Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS)
19. Which condition causes hypocalcemia in neonates born to mothers with hyperparathyroidism? → Maternal hypercalcemia suppresses fetal parathyroid gland development
20. Why are preterm neonates at increased risk for hypoglycemia compared to term infants? → Limited glycogen stores and immature gluconeogenesis
21. A pediatric patient with traumatic brain injury has a GCS of 7. What is the initial target PaCO2? → 35–40 mmHg (normocapnia)
22. A neonate born at 26 weeks gestation has a brain ultrasound showing blood in the lateral ventricles without dilation. This is classified as which grade of IVH? → Grade II
23. Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) is characterized by which pathophysiological mechanism? → Airway obstruction, surfactant inactivation, and chemical pneumonitis
24. Bell's staging system is used to classify the severity of which neonatal condition? → Necrotizing enterocolitis
25. A transport team prepares to move a neonate with confirmed pertussis. What isolation precautions are required during transport? → Droplet precautions
26. What is the minimum recommended duration of antibiotic therapy for confirmed gram-negative neonatal bacterial meningitis? → 21 days minimum
27. When using a mechanical ventilator in neonatal care, what is the typical initial setting for positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP)? → 3-5 cm H2O
28. What is the primary purpose of performing a Silverman-Anderson score on a neonate? → To evaluate the severity of respiratory distress
29. Which medication is used to treat neonatal seizures as first-line therapy in the US? → Phenobarbital
30. The correct compression-to-ventilation ratio during neonatal CPR is: → 3:1