Thermoregulation 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 Thermoregulation flashcards as text
A mother asks why her healthy term newborn needs a hat. The nurse's BEST response is that a hat primarily prevents heat loss through:
Answer: Radiation and convection from the large surface area of the head
The head represents a disproportionately large surface area in neonates and loses heat readily via radiation to cooler surrounding surfaces and convection from air currents.
A nurse is caring for a 29-week infant in a double-walled incubator. Which intervention MOST effectively reduces radiant heat loss within the incubator?
Answer: Using a double-walled incubator design
The inner wall of a double-walled incubator is warmed by circulating air, reducing the temperature gradient between the infant and incubator walls, thereby minimizing radiant heat loss.
During therapeutic hypothermia, a neonate develops coagulopathy. The RNC-NIC understands this complication occurs because cooling:
Answer: Impairs platelet function and reduces clotting factor activity
Hypothermia inhibits platelet aggregation and reduces the enzymatic activity of clotting factors, increasing the risk of bleeding.
A 27-week infant on servo-control has a set skin temperature of 36.5°C but is found to be hyperthermic (rectal temp 38.2°C). What is the MOST likely cause?
Answer: The servo-control probe is covered by a warm blanket or is poorly adhered
When the servo-control probe is insulated (e.g., covered by blankets) or poorly adhered, it reads artificially low, causing the incubator to overheat the infant.
Which of the following is a recognized CONTRAINDICATION to therapeutic hypothermia?
Answer: Severe coagulopathy present before cooling initiation
Pre-existing severe coagulopathy is a contraindication to therapeutic hypothermia because cooling further impairs clotting and significantly increases bleeding risk.
A NICU nurse is caring for a neonate with persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN). The nurse understands that hypothermia in this infant is particularly dangerous because:
Answer: Hypothermia increases pulmonary vascular resistance, worsening right-to-left shunting
Cold stress causes pulmonary vasoconstriction, increasing pulmonary vascular resistance and worsening the right-to-left shunting characteristic of PPHN.
A neonate is to be rewarmed after therapeutic hypothermia. The recommended rate of rewarming to minimize neurological harm is:
Answer: 0.1–0.2°C per hour
Evidence-based guidelines recommend slow rewarming at 0.1–0.2°C per hour over approximately 6–12 hours to prevent rebound seizures and cerebral hyperemia.