Neonatal Assessment and Immediate Care Flashcards
6 cards from real Maternal Newborn Nursing Test practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Neonatal Assessment and Immediate Care flashcards as text
Which finding on newborn skin assessment is a normal variation that does NOT require intervention?
Answer: Erythema toxicum
Erythema toxicum neonatorum is a benign, self-limiting rash of unknown cause appearing in 30–70% of full-term newborns and requires no treatment.
What is the expected weight loss considered normal in a newborn during the first week of life?
Answer: Up to 7–10% of birth weight
Newborns typically lose up to 7–10% of birth weight in the first few days due to fluid shifts and meconium passage; birth weight is usually regained by 10–14 days.
A nurse is assessing gestational age using the Ballard score. Which neuromuscular maturity finding is expected in a full-term newborn (38–40 weeks)?
Answer: Arm recoil with brisk return to flexion
Full-term newborns demonstrate active flexion tone, so when the arm is extended and released, it quickly returns to the flexed position (brisk arm recoil).
A newborn has a yellow discoloration of the skin and sclerae at 18 hours of life. How should the nurse interpret this finding?
Answer: Pathological jaundice — notify the provider immediately
Jaundice appearing within the first 24 hours of life is always pathological (e.g., hemolytic disease) and requires immediate evaluation and treatment to prevent kernicterus.
Which newborn measurement indicates macrosomia and increases risk for birth injuries?
Answer: Birth weight greater than 4,000 g (8 lb 13 oz)
Macrosomia is defined as birth weight >4,000 g and is associated with increased risk of shoulder dystocia, fractures, and brachial plexus injury during delivery.
Which newborn vital sign range is considered normal for a term newborn?
Answer: Heart rate 110–160 bpm, respiratory rate 30–60 breaths/min, temperature 36.5–37.5°C
Normal newborn vital signs: HR 110–160 bpm, RR 30–60 breaths/min, and temperature 36.5–37.5°C axillary.