Pediatric Nurse Exam Pediatric Nurse Neonatal and Newborn Care 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the normal respiratory rate for a newborn?
- 30–60 breaths per minute (Correct answer)
- 12–20 breaths per minute
- 60–80 breaths per minute
- 20–30 breaths per minute
Correct answer: 30–60 breaths per minute
A normal newborn respiratory rate is 30–60 breaths per minute, which is higher than the adult range.
Question 2: Which component of the Apgar score assesses heart rate?
- Pulse (Correct answer)
- Grimace
- Activity
- Appearance
Correct answer: Pulse
The 'P' in the Apgar acronym stands for Pulse, which evaluates the newborn's heart rate at 1 and 5 minutes after birth.
Question 3: A newborn's Apgar score is 8 at 5 minutes. What is the most appropriate nursing response?
- Continue routine observation and monitoring (Correct answer)
- Begin immediate resuscitation
- Transfer to the NICU at once
- Administer oxygen via bag-mask ventilation
Correct answer: Continue routine observation and monitoring
An Apgar score of 7–10 indicates a vigorous newborn requiring only routine monitoring and care.
Question 4: Which vitamin is administered intramuscularly to all newborns at birth to prevent hemorrhagic disease?
- Vitamin K (Correct answer)
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin E
Correct answer: Vitamin K
Vitamin K is given at birth because newborns have low clotting factor levels and are deficient in this vitamin, which is essential for blood coagulation.
Question 5: What is the priority nursing intervention for a newborn with confirmed hypoglycemia and a blood glucose of 38 mg/dL?
- Initiate early feeding or administer oral glucose gel (Correct answer)
- Immediately insert a peripheral IV for dextrose
- Place under a radiant warmer and recheck in 1 hour
- Obtain a blood culture before treating
Correct answer: Initiate early feeding or administer oral glucose gel
Early feeding or oral dextrose gel is the first-line treatment for mild neonatal hypoglycemia before escalating to IV dextrose.
Question 6: A newborn has not passed meconium within 48 hours of birth. Which condition should the nurse suspect?
- Hirschsprung disease (Correct answer)
- Pyloric stenosis
- Intussusception
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease
Correct answer: Hirschsprung disease
Failure to pass meconium within 24–48 hours is a classic sign of Hirschsprung disease, caused by absence of ganglion cells in the colon.
Pediatric Nurse Exam Pediatric Nurse Neonatal and Newborn Care 1
What is the normal respiratory rate for a newborn?