Neonatal Evaluation & Monitoring Flashcards
7 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 7 Neonatal Evaluation & Monitoring flashcards as text
A neonate at 28 weeks gestation has a transcutaneous CO2 reading of 58 mmHg. Which action is most appropriate?
Answer: Obtain an arterial blood gas to confirm
Transcutaneous monitors require correlation with ABG before ventilator changes, especially when values are borderline or unexpected.
When assessing a neonate using the Ballard Maturational Assessment, which neuromuscular sign indicates greater gestational maturity?
Answer: Decreased popliteal angle
A decreased (more restricted) popliteal angle indicates greater muscle tone and neuromuscular maturity.
A term neonate has a capillary blood glucose of 38 mg/dL at 2 hours of life. The infant is asymptomatic and breastfeeding. What is the priority nursing action?
Answer: Recheck glucose after next feeding
Asymptomatic late preterm and term neonates with borderline glucose levels are managed with feeding and recheck per institutional protocol.
Which near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) value for cerebral regional oxygen saturation (rSO2) should prompt clinical concern in a NICU neonate?
Answer: 55%
Cerebral rSO2 below 55-60% is generally considered a threshold for intervention, as it may signal inadequate cerebral oxygen delivery.
A 34-week preterm infant on CPAP has nasal flaring, grunting, and subcostal retractions. Using the Silverman-Anderson score, how would this presentation most likely score?
Answer: Score of 5-7 — moderate distress
The presence of three signs (flaring, grunting, retractions) but without see-saw respirations or xiphoid retractions typically places the score in the moderate range.
During routine monitoring, a VLBW infant's oxygen saturation alarm sounds at 80%. The probe is properly placed. What is the first nursing action?
Answer: Assess the infant directly for color, tone, and respiratory effort
Direct patient assessment is always the first priority to determine if the desaturation is real or artifact before adjusting support.
A neonate is noted to have a blood pressure of 28/14 mmHg (MAP 19 mmHg) at 26 weeks corrected age. Which statement best guides interpretation?
Answer: Mean arterial pressure should equal or exceed gestational age in weeks
A commonly used clinical guideline is that MAP (in mmHg) should be at least equal to gestational age in weeks as a minimum acceptable threshold.