Neonatal Complications and High-Risk Newborn 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 Complications and High-Risk Newborn flashcards as text
A newborn is diagnosed with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Which therapeutic intervention has been shown to improve neurological outcomes?
Answer: Therapeutic hypothermia (cooling therapy)
Therapeutic hypothermia (cooling to 33–34°C for 72 hours) initiated within 6 hours of birth reduces neuronal apoptosis and improves neurological outcomes in term infants with moderate-to-severe HIE.
A preterm neonate has a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Which sign would the nurse observe during assessment?
Answer: Continuous machinery-like murmur at the left upper sternal border
A PDA produces a characteristic continuous machinery-like murmur heard best at the left infraclavicular area due to continuous shunting of blood from the aorta to pulmonary artery.
A nurse is caring for a neonate with intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). Which behavior change would the nurse most likely observe?
Answer: Bulging anterior fontanel, apnea, and seizures
IVH in preterm infants presents with bulging fontanel due to increased intracranial pressure, along with apneic episodes and seizure activity reflecting neurological compromise.
A 26-week preterm infant in the NICU has retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). What is the primary cause of this condition?
Answer: Immature retinal blood vessel development disrupted by supplemental oxygen
ROP occurs when immature retinal vasculature is disrupted by hyperoxia and fluctuating oxygen levels, leading to abnormal angiogenesis that can cause retinal detachment and blindness.
A newborn is diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism on newborn screen. Without treatment, which outcome is most likely?
Answer: Intellectual disability and growth retardation
Untreated congenital hypothyroidism causes cretinism — severe intellectual disability and stunted growth — because thyroid hormone is essential for early brain development.
Which intervention is the most important in preventing infection in the NICU for high-risk neonates?
Answer: Strict hand hygiene by all personnel and family members
Consistent and proper hand hygiene by healthcare workers and visitors is the single most effective intervention for preventing healthcare-associated infections in vulnerable NICU patients.