1|Page
RNC-NIC EXAM QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS 2026(GRADED A+) DETAILED ANSWERS
amniocentesis ......ANSWER......needle puncture of the amniotic sac to
withdraw amniotic fluid for analysis
- screens for chromosomal abnormalities
- typically performed early in 2nd trimester (15-20 wks), more accurate
>20 wks d/t chromosomal presence in fluid
- **also can be used later in pregnancy to assess fetal lung maturity**
- often recommended for AMA
thrombocytopenia (maternal) ......ANSWER......- a generally benign
maternal medical complication that is due to hemodilution (increased
RBCs)
- may be associated with hypertensive conditions r/t pregnancy
- may be associated with s/s of bleeding in the infant
risks of maternal thrombocytopenia ......ANSWER......can result in:
- increased risk of bleeding in the mother, especially during the delivery
- **bleeding in the infant (oozing from umbilical cord, prolonged
bleeding from heel sticks, bruising, **petechiae
pg. 1
,2|Page
neonatal petechiae ......ANSWER......- must consider
hyperbilirubinemia/jaundice (breakdown of RBCs)
- also associated with maternal thrombocytopenia
cytomegalovirus (CMV) ......ANSWER......- **most common intrauterine
infection**
- transmitted by exposure to infected blood or body fluids
- majority of infants asymptomatic at birth, but 5-15% have later
sequelae (most commonly hearing and vision loss)
contraindication for breastfeeding ......ANSWER......- maternal HIV/AIDS
infection
- **HIV/AIDS can be spread through breastfeeding**
signs of HIV in newborn ......ANSWER......- poor weight gain
- **repeated fungal mouth infections** (thrush)
- enlarged lymph nodes
- enlarged liver/spleen
- neurologic problems
- multiple bacterial infections, including pneumonia
chlamydia ......ANSWER......- **most common bacterial sexually
transmitted infection**
pg. 2
,3|Page
- *treatment: erythromycin*
signs/symptoms of neonatal chlamydia ......ANSWER......- conjunctivitis
in first few weeks
- late-onset: pneumonia at 3-4 months
- otitis media
- gastroenteritis
oligohydramnios ......ANSWER......- AF volume <1 L at 36 weeks, <800
mL at term
- can lead to pulmonary hypoplasia d/t amniotic fluid's role in fetal
pulmonary development
- **may be related to Potter sequence/renal agenesis** because AF is
largely made up of fetal urine (no urine if the baby has no kidneys)
- **can lead to hypoplastic lungs**
- can also lead to IUGR and positional deformities (baby can't move
well)
Potter sequence (renal agenesis) ......ANSWER......- **Renal agenesis ->
oligohydramnios -> severe pulmonary hypoplasia**
- association of defects beginning w/ bilateral renal agenesis d/t failure
of the ureteric bud to divide
- urine formation does not occur --> low or absent amniotic fluid
volumes
pg. 3
, 4|Page
- fetal structures are compressed
- associated defects: abnormal genital dev., leg deformities, GI defects,
arthrohyposis, pulmonary hypoplasia
- *most infants will die within the first several days; often d/t associated
lung hypoplasia*
hydramnios or polyhydramnios ......ANSWER......- AF volume >2L
- **may be due to GI obstructions (e.g. esophageal atresia, duodenal to
anal atresia) d/t the baby being unable to swallow amniotic fluid, so the
AF keeps building up in utero **
- also can be d/t tight nuchal cord or neurologic defects which may also
obstruct or impair fetal swallowing
PROM ......ANSWER......- premature rupture of membranes, before the
onset of labor
- **risk of infection if directly proportional to the duration of ROM**
- **after 24 hours of ROM, the risk of infection escalates significantly**
PPROM ......ANSWER......- preterm premature rupture of membranes,
PROM occurring before 37 weeks
- does not necessarily lead to the onset of labor if it occurs too early,
but after 24 hours of ROM, the risk of infection escalates
- **risk of infection if directly proportional to the duration of ROM**
pg. 4
RNC-NIC EXAM QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS 2026(GRADED A+) DETAILED ANSWERS
amniocentesis ......ANSWER......needle puncture of the amniotic sac to
withdraw amniotic fluid for analysis
- screens for chromosomal abnormalities
- typically performed early in 2nd trimester (15-20 wks), more accurate
>20 wks d/t chromosomal presence in fluid
- **also can be used later in pregnancy to assess fetal lung maturity**
- often recommended for AMA
thrombocytopenia (maternal) ......ANSWER......- a generally benign
maternal medical complication that is due to hemodilution (increased
RBCs)
- may be associated with hypertensive conditions r/t pregnancy
- may be associated with s/s of bleeding in the infant
risks of maternal thrombocytopenia ......ANSWER......can result in:
- increased risk of bleeding in the mother, especially during the delivery
- **bleeding in the infant (oozing from umbilical cord, prolonged
bleeding from heel sticks, bruising, **petechiae
pg. 1
,2|Page
neonatal petechiae ......ANSWER......- must consider
hyperbilirubinemia/jaundice (breakdown of RBCs)
- also associated with maternal thrombocytopenia
cytomegalovirus (CMV) ......ANSWER......- **most common intrauterine
infection**
- transmitted by exposure to infected blood or body fluids
- majority of infants asymptomatic at birth, but 5-15% have later
sequelae (most commonly hearing and vision loss)
contraindication for breastfeeding ......ANSWER......- maternal HIV/AIDS
infection
- **HIV/AIDS can be spread through breastfeeding**
signs of HIV in newborn ......ANSWER......- poor weight gain
- **repeated fungal mouth infections** (thrush)
- enlarged lymph nodes
- enlarged liver/spleen
- neurologic problems
- multiple bacterial infections, including pneumonia
chlamydia ......ANSWER......- **most common bacterial sexually
transmitted infection**
pg. 2
,3|Page
- *treatment: erythromycin*
signs/symptoms of neonatal chlamydia ......ANSWER......- conjunctivitis
in first few weeks
- late-onset: pneumonia at 3-4 months
- otitis media
- gastroenteritis
oligohydramnios ......ANSWER......- AF volume <1 L at 36 weeks, <800
mL at term
- can lead to pulmonary hypoplasia d/t amniotic fluid's role in fetal
pulmonary development
- **may be related to Potter sequence/renal agenesis** because AF is
largely made up of fetal urine (no urine if the baby has no kidneys)
- **can lead to hypoplastic lungs**
- can also lead to IUGR and positional deformities (baby can't move
well)
Potter sequence (renal agenesis) ......ANSWER......- **Renal agenesis ->
oligohydramnios -> severe pulmonary hypoplasia**
- association of defects beginning w/ bilateral renal agenesis d/t failure
of the ureteric bud to divide
- urine formation does not occur --> low or absent amniotic fluid
volumes
pg. 3
, 4|Page
- fetal structures are compressed
- associated defects: abnormal genital dev., leg deformities, GI defects,
arthrohyposis, pulmonary hypoplasia
- *most infants will die within the first several days; often d/t associated
lung hypoplasia*
hydramnios or polyhydramnios ......ANSWER......- AF volume >2L
- **may be due to GI obstructions (e.g. esophageal atresia, duodenal to
anal atresia) d/t the baby being unable to swallow amniotic fluid, so the
AF keeps building up in utero **
- also can be d/t tight nuchal cord or neurologic defects which may also
obstruct or impair fetal swallowing
PROM ......ANSWER......- premature rupture of membranes, before the
onset of labor
- **risk of infection if directly proportional to the duration of ROM**
- **after 24 hours of ROM, the risk of infection escalates significantly**
PPROM ......ANSWER......- preterm premature rupture of membranes,
PROM occurring before 37 weeks
- does not necessarily lead to the onset of labor if it occurs too early,
but after 24 hours of ROM, the risk of infection escalates
- **risk of infection if directly proportional to the duration of ROM**
pg. 4
