Question 1

The perinatal nurse explains the primary goals of nursing care in the transitional period of newborn life to the nursing student.Which goals does the nurse include?

Accepted Answer

A)  Ensure all newborn screening is completed. 
B)  Facilitate breastfeeding in all newborns. 
C)  Promote bonding within the new family. 
D)  Register the baby with the health department. 
E)  Support the infant's physical well-being.

Question 2

The nursery nurse notes the presence of diffuse edema on a newborn baby's head.Review of the birth record indicates that her mother experienced a prolonged labor and difficult childbirth.What action by the nurse is best?

Accepted Answer

A)  Document the findings in the infant's chart. 
B)  Measure head circumference every 12 hours. 
C)  Prepare to administer IV osmotic diuretics. 
D)  Transfer the baby to the NICU for monitoring .

Question 3

The perinatal nurse is called to assess an infant 4 hours post-birth.The nurse notes a blue tinge to the lips,gums,and tongue of this infant.The nurse prepares for which of the following interventions?

Accepted Answer

A)  Cardiac catheterization 
B)  Echocardiogram 
C)  Oxygen therapy 
D)  Ultrasound 
E)  Vital sign monitoring

Question 4

The nurse is assessing an infant's extrusion reflex.To perform this correctly,what steps does the nurse take?

Accepted Answer

A)  Place a small object in the infant's hand. 
B)  Stroke the side of the infant's cheek. 
C)  Touch the tip of the infant's tongue. 
D)  Turn the infant's head to one side.

Question 5

A nurse is discharging parents and their new infant.When assisting the family to place the infant in a car seat,which observation leads the nurse to reinforce teaching?

Accepted Answer

A)  The baby is wearing a sack-type sleeper. 
B)  The baby is wearing a single layer of clothes. 
C)  The parent checks the temperature of the car seat. 
D)  A rear-facing car seat is in the back seat.

Question 6

The perinatal nurse teaches the new mother and her family about appropriate infant care to prevent omphalitis.Information given would include which of the following instructions?

Accepted Answer

A)  Apply a mild soap and lotion to dry skin. 
B)  Change diapers frequently following circumcision. 
C)  Keep the base of the umbilical cord clean and dry. 
D)  Take rectal temperatures twice a day for a week.

Question 7

A nurse is preparing to discharge an infant who has developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH).What discharge instruction would be most important?

Accepted Answer

A)  How to correctly perform Ortolani's maneuver 
B)  How to properly use the Pavlik harness 
C)  When to return for corrective surgery 
D)  Where to take the baby to be fit for corrective shoes

Question 8

An infant was born with anencephaly and was taken immediately to the NICU.The parents are about to visit for the first time.What action by the nurse is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

A)  Call the hospital chaplain to visit the parents. 
B)  Obtain informed consent for emergency surgery. 
C)  Prepare the parents for how the infant will look. 
D)  Show the parents proper gowning and gloving.

Question 9

The perinatal nurse wants to contact the pediatrician about a heart murmur that was auscultated during a newborn assessment.During what time frame would hearing the murmur lead the nurse to contact the health-care provider?

Accepted Answer

A)  8 to 12 hours 
B)  12 to 24 hours 
C)  24 to 48 hours 
D)  48 to 72 hours

Question 10

The perinatal nurse carefully assesses an infant for evidence of maternal alcohol use.Characteristics the nurse assesses for include which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  Coloboma 
B)  Irritability 
C)  Periauricular skin tags 
D)  Smooth philtrum 
E)  Thin upper lip

Question 11

A nurse assessing an infant notes that the baby is jittery,has muscle twitches,and has jittery movement of the arms and legs.What action by the nurse is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

A)  Call the physician and request muscle relaxants. 
B)  Ensure the infant is kept warm in a quiet environment. 
C)  Facilitate completion of either a CT or an MRI scan. 
D)  Request laboratory work to detect substances of abuse.

Question 12

The perinatal nurse teaches the student nurse about conditions that may require immediate investigation during the transitional period.These conditions include which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  Grunting and sternal retractions 
B)  Heart rate of 112 beats/minute 
C)  Infant born at 36 + 2 weeks' gestation 
D)  Respiratory rate of 62 breaths/minute 
E)  The presence of nasal flaring

Question 13

The perinatal nurse notes that a newborn does not seem to have an opening inside the anal ring.Which action by the nurse takes priority?

Accepted Answer

A)  Ask the mother how well the infant is eating. 
B)  Assess the abdomen and notify the physician. 
C)  Facilitate laboratory studies for kidney function. 
D)  Reassure the parents that this is a normal deviation.

Question 14

A birthing unit has a new manager who plans to implement policies to facilitate family bonding after birth.Which of the following possible policies would be most helpful?

Accepted Answer

A)  Allow 3-4 hours of uninterrupted family time after birth. 
B)  Delay noncritical procedures during the initial family time. 
C)  Encourage and support breastfeeding practices. 
D)  Have a designated discharge teaching nurse visit the family. 
E)  Initiate primary nursing to provide continuity of care.

Question 15

A nurse is teaching new and very young parents about safe sleeping practices for their newborn son and asks to hear them describe their nursery and their plans for the baby's sleeping arrangements.What information from the parents would indicate that they did not understand the discharge teaching?

Accepted Answer

A)  "A friend bought an air purifier that prevents SIDS." 
B)  "He can have a pacifier when he takes a nap." 
C)  "Our bed is big enough for all three of us." 
D)  "The crib is soft with lots of snuggly blankets." 
E)  "We won't let the grandparents smoke in our house."

Question 16

The perinatal nurse teaches new parents that the best sleeping position for infants is which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  Prone 
B)  Side-lying 
C)  Side-lying with a blanket roll behind the infant's back 
D)  Supine

Question 17

A nurse observes a student nurse examining a newborn baby boy's scrotum and testicles.The student softly palpates the scrotum with all five digits of the dominant hand and states that there is only one testicle present.What action by the nurse is best?

Accepted Answer

A)  Ask the parents if this is a familial trait seen in male family members. 
B)  Call the health-care provider and request a urology consult. 
C)  Have the student repeat the exam using the proper technique. 
D)  Perform the exam himself or herself and document the findings.

Question 18

In order to promote thermal stabilization in a neonate,which action by the nurse is best?

Accepted Answer

A)  Lay the infant in an incubator. 
B)  Place the infant in skin-to-skin contact with the mom. 
C)  Put a knitted cap on the baby's head. 
D)  Wrap the baby in warmed blankets.

Question 19

A nurse is assessing an infant who has a large bruise around his neck and face from a nuchal cord.What other assessment finding correlates with this condition?

Accepted Answer

A)  Elevated serum bilirubin 
B)  Irritability with gentle handing 
C)  Large-for-gestational-age measurements 
D)  Obvious vertebral defects

Question 20

A nurse is preparing an infant for circumcision.The parents ask about pain control.The nurse should inform the parents about what options?

Accepted Answer

A)  Concentrated oral glucose solution 
B)  Nonnutritive sucking 
C)  Oral liquid aspirin products 
D)  Swaddling and containment 
E)  Topical anesthetics or anesthetic blocks

Exam 18: Caring for the Normal Newborn