RNC-NIC Thermoregulation 4

Question 1

During kangaroo care (skin-to-skin), which physiological mechanism primarily accounts for heat transfer from the parent to the neonate?

Accepted Answer

Conduction through direct skin contact

Answer

During skin-to-skin care, heat transfers from the warmer parent's skin directly to the cooler neonate's skin via conduction.

Question 2

A neonate receiving therapeutic hypothermia develops a heart rate of 88 bpm and a core temperature of 33.5°C. What is the MOST appropriate nursing action?

Accepted Answer

Notify the physician and continue monitoring, as bradycardia is expected during cooling

Answer

Mild bradycardia (HR 80–100 bpm) is an expected and acceptable physiologic response during therapeutic hypothermia and does not require intervention unless accompanied by hemodynamic compromise.

Question 3

A nurse is caring for a 25-week infant under a radiant warmer with a humidity level of 80%. The purpose of maintaining high humidity is to:

Accepted Answer

Reduce transepidermal water loss and evaporative heat loss

Answer

High humidity in the incubator or under a radiant warmer reduces the gradient between the infant's skin and the environment, decreasing transepidermal water loss and evaporative heat loss through immature skin.

Question 4

Which finding would MOST likely indicate that a neonate in therapeutic hypothermia has been rewarmed too rapidly?

Accepted Answer

Seizure activity on amplitude-integrated EEG

Answer

Rebound seizures are a known complication of excessively rapid rewarming after therapeutic hypothermia and indicate neurological deterioration.

Question 5

An RNC-NIC nurse knows that the thermoreceptors primarily responsible for initiating non-shivering thermogenesis in neonates are located in the:

Accepted Answer

Hypothalamus and spinal cord

Answer

Central thermoreceptors in the hypothalamus and spinal cord detect core temperature changes and trigger the sympathetic response that initiates BAT thermogenesis.

(RNC-NIC) Registered Nurse Certified in Neonatal Intensive Care Practice Test

(RNC-NIC) Registered Nurse Certified in Neonatal Intensive Care Practice Test

RNC-NIC Thermoregulation 4