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NEWBORN AND POSTPARTUM EXAM QUESTIONS EXAM
2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS EXAM 2026 LATEST
EDITION SOLVED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS VERIFIED
A preterm infant at 32 weeks gestation is at high risk for respiratory distress
due to surfactant deficiency. Which statement by the nurse best explains the
role of surfactant to the parents?
A. "It helps the baby produce more red blood cells."
B. "It reduces surface tension in the lungs and prevents the air sacs from
collapsing."
C. "It increases the baby's heart rate after birth."
D. "It helps the baby regulate body temperature."
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Surfactant is described as a “lipoprotein… reduces surface tension…
prevents atelectasis.” It keeps alveoli open and makes gas exchange easier.
A nurse is teaching a pregnant client at 28 weeks about antenatal steroids.
Which statement indicates understanding?
A. "The steroids help my baby's liver mature faster."
B. "The steroids will prevent my baby from getting jaundice."
C. "The steroids help speed up my baby's lung maturity."
D. "The steroids will make my baby's heart close the shunts sooner."
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The slides note “Maternal steroids to help speed up fetal lung maturity
(betamethasone vs dexamethasone).” They are given to enhance surfactant
production in preterm infants.
A newborn's temperature is 36.1°C (97.0°F). The nurse recognizes this as:
A. Normal temperature
B. Mild hypothermia
C. Moderate hypothermia
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D. Severe hypothermia
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Normal is “36.5–37.5°C.” Mild hypothermia is “36.0–36.4°C.” Therefore,
36.1°C is mild hypothermia.
Which newborn is at highest risk for hypothermia?
A. Term infant, 3.4 kg, vigorous cry
B. Term infant, 3.2 kg, breastfeeding well
C. Preterm infant, 1.8 kg, hypotonic and lethargic
D. Term infant, 3.6 kg, mild jaundice
Correct answer: C
Rationale: At-risk infants include “Prematurity, low birth weight, small for gestational
age, hypotonia, ill infants.” A preterm, low-weight, hypotonic baby is at greatest risk.
A nurse notes a newborn's skin is cold, mottled, and pale. The infant is
lethargic with poor feeding and bradycardia. Which complication is the nurse
most concerned about?
A. Hyperbilirubinemia
B. Cold stress
C. Hyperthermia
D. Neonatal abstinence syndrome
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Signs of hypothermia/cold stress include “Skin cold, mottled,
pale/bluish… poor feeding… lethargy… bradycardia… hypoglycemia.” Cold stress
leads to increased O₂ consumption and metabolic acidosis.
Which nursing intervention is most appropriate to prevent cold stress in a
stable term newborn?
A. Delay skin-to-skin contact until after the first bath
B. Place the infant under a radiant warmer with no temperature monitoring
C. Dry the infant thoroughly and place skin-to-skin with the parent
D. Keep the infant uncovered to allow for frequent assessments\
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Prevention is key: “Provide neutral thermal environment… prevent heat
loss… skin to skin w mom/dad.” Drying and skin-to-skin are first-line.
PASS YOUR NCLEX ON YOUR FIRST ATTEMPT!
, Page 3 of 45
I help nursing students master NCLEX strategies, critical thinking, SATA
questions, pharmacology, and test-taking techniques with confidence.
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Contact:
A nurse is rewarming a hypothermic newborn. Which action is most
appropriate?
A. Rewarm rapidly to quickly normalize temperature B. Rewarm slowly while
monitoring vital signs C. Use cold IV fluids to prevent shock D. Bathe the
infant in warm water immediately
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The slides emphasize: “Re-warm slowly because if you don’t it can push
them into shock due to rapid vascular changes.” Slow, controlled rewarming is
essential.
Which scenario best describes heat loss by evaporation?
A. Infant placed on a cold scale without a blanket B. Infant lying near a drafty
window C. Infant with wet hair and skin after a bath D. Infant placed on a cold
mattress
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Evaporation is “conversion of water to vapor on the skin… dry them off
quickly… bath, birth, wet blankets.” Wet skin after a bath is classic evaporation.
A newborn is placed on a cold metal scale without a blanket. This is an
example of heat loss by:
A. Conduction B. Convection C. Radiation D. Evaporation
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Conduction is “transfer of heat between two solid objects—putting baby
on a cool surface.” The cold scale is conduction.
A newborn bassinet is placed directly under an air conditioning vent. Which
type of heat loss is most likely?
A. Conduction B. Convection C. Radiation D. Evaporation
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Convection is “transfer of heat from the infant’s body to the surrounding
cooler air… air conditioner, fans, people walking by.”
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A nurse explains kangaroo care to parents. Which statement indicates correct
understanding?
A. "It is mainly used to treat jaundice." B. "It is the best way to warm up a cold
baby and helps with bonding." C. "It is only recommended for very premature
infants." D. "It replaces the need for any other heat source."
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The slides state: “Skin-to-skin… best way to warm up a cold baby…
thermoregulation benefits… bonding benefits… recommended in term and preterm
infants.”
A newborn undergoing a painful procedure shows a high-pitched cry,
grimacing, and rigid extremities. What is the best initial nursing action?
A. Ignore the signs because newborns do not feel pain B. Provide
non-pharmacologic comfort measures such as swaddling and sucrose C.
Immediately administer IV morphine without assessment D. Wait until the
procedure is over to intervene
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Signs of pain include “high-pitched, intense cry… grimace… rigid
extremities.” Interventions: “Non-pharma—skin to skin, pacifier, sweeties, swaddle,
contain them.” These are appropriate first-line.
A nurse is using the NIPS scale. Which finding would increase the pain score?
A. Relaxed facial expression B. No cry C. Relaxed arms and legs D. Vigorous
crying
Correct answer: D
Rationale: NIPS assigns higher points for “vigorous crying (loud scream, shrill,
continuous)” and for tense, flexed extremities and grimacing.
A newborn of a diabetic mother (IDM) is large for gestational age with poor
muscle tone and tremors. Which complication is the nurse most concerned
about?
A. Hypercalcemia B. Hypoglycemia C. Hyperbilirubinemia only D.
Polycythemia only
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The slides note: “Fetus produces excessive insulin… when cut off from
mom baby becomes hypoglycemic… signs: jittery/tremors, cold, irritability or
lethargy, resp distress.”
NEWBORN AND POSTPARTUM EXAM QUESTIONS EXAM
2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS EXAM 2026 LATEST
EDITION SOLVED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS VERIFIED
A preterm infant at 32 weeks gestation is at high risk for respiratory distress
due to surfactant deficiency. Which statement by the nurse best explains the
role of surfactant to the parents?
A. "It helps the baby produce more red blood cells."
B. "It reduces surface tension in the lungs and prevents the air sacs from
collapsing."
C. "It increases the baby's heart rate after birth."
D. "It helps the baby regulate body temperature."
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Surfactant is described as a “lipoprotein… reduces surface tension…
prevents atelectasis.” It keeps alveoli open and makes gas exchange easier.
A nurse is teaching a pregnant client at 28 weeks about antenatal steroids.
Which statement indicates understanding?
A. "The steroids help my baby's liver mature faster."
B. "The steroids will prevent my baby from getting jaundice."
C. "The steroids help speed up my baby's lung maturity."
D. "The steroids will make my baby's heart close the shunts sooner."
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The slides note “Maternal steroids to help speed up fetal lung maturity
(betamethasone vs dexamethasone).” They are given to enhance surfactant
production in preterm infants.
A newborn's temperature is 36.1°C (97.0°F). The nurse recognizes this as:
A. Normal temperature
B. Mild hypothermia
C. Moderate hypothermia
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D. Severe hypothermia
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Normal is “36.5–37.5°C.” Mild hypothermia is “36.0–36.4°C.” Therefore,
36.1°C is mild hypothermia.
Which newborn is at highest risk for hypothermia?
A. Term infant, 3.4 kg, vigorous cry
B. Term infant, 3.2 kg, breastfeeding well
C. Preterm infant, 1.8 kg, hypotonic and lethargic
D. Term infant, 3.6 kg, mild jaundice
Correct answer: C
Rationale: At-risk infants include “Prematurity, low birth weight, small for gestational
age, hypotonia, ill infants.” A preterm, low-weight, hypotonic baby is at greatest risk.
A nurse notes a newborn's skin is cold, mottled, and pale. The infant is
lethargic with poor feeding and bradycardia. Which complication is the nurse
most concerned about?
A. Hyperbilirubinemia
B. Cold stress
C. Hyperthermia
D. Neonatal abstinence syndrome
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Signs of hypothermia/cold stress include “Skin cold, mottled,
pale/bluish… poor feeding… lethargy… bradycardia… hypoglycemia.” Cold stress
leads to increased O₂ consumption and metabolic acidosis.
Which nursing intervention is most appropriate to prevent cold stress in a
stable term newborn?
A. Delay skin-to-skin contact until after the first bath
B. Place the infant under a radiant warmer with no temperature monitoring
C. Dry the infant thoroughly and place skin-to-skin with the parent
D. Keep the infant uncovered to allow for frequent assessments\
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Prevention is key: “Provide neutral thermal environment… prevent heat
loss… skin to skin w mom/dad.” Drying and skin-to-skin are first-line.
PASS YOUR NCLEX ON YOUR FIRST ATTEMPT!
, Page 3 of 45
I help nursing students master NCLEX strategies, critical thinking, SATA
questions, pharmacology, and test-taking techniques with confidence.
Join my coaching program today and prepare smarter, not harder.
Contact:
A nurse is rewarming a hypothermic newborn. Which action is most
appropriate?
A. Rewarm rapidly to quickly normalize temperature B. Rewarm slowly while
monitoring vital signs C. Use cold IV fluids to prevent shock D. Bathe the
infant in warm water immediately
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The slides emphasize: “Re-warm slowly because if you don’t it can push
them into shock due to rapid vascular changes.” Slow, controlled rewarming is
essential.
Which scenario best describes heat loss by evaporation?
A. Infant placed on a cold scale without a blanket B. Infant lying near a drafty
window C. Infant with wet hair and skin after a bath D. Infant placed on a cold
mattress
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Evaporation is “conversion of water to vapor on the skin… dry them off
quickly… bath, birth, wet blankets.” Wet skin after a bath is classic evaporation.
A newborn is placed on a cold metal scale without a blanket. This is an
example of heat loss by:
A. Conduction B. Convection C. Radiation D. Evaporation
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Conduction is “transfer of heat between two solid objects—putting baby
on a cool surface.” The cold scale is conduction.
A newborn bassinet is placed directly under an air conditioning vent. Which
type of heat loss is most likely?
A. Conduction B. Convection C. Radiation D. Evaporation
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Convection is “transfer of heat from the infant’s body to the surrounding
cooler air… air conditioner, fans, people walking by.”
, Page 4 of 45
A nurse explains kangaroo care to parents. Which statement indicates correct
understanding?
A. "It is mainly used to treat jaundice." B. "It is the best way to warm up a cold
baby and helps with bonding." C. "It is only recommended for very premature
infants." D. "It replaces the need for any other heat source."
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The slides state: “Skin-to-skin… best way to warm up a cold baby…
thermoregulation benefits… bonding benefits… recommended in term and preterm
infants.”
A newborn undergoing a painful procedure shows a high-pitched cry,
grimacing, and rigid extremities. What is the best initial nursing action?
A. Ignore the signs because newborns do not feel pain B. Provide
non-pharmacologic comfort measures such as swaddling and sucrose C.
Immediately administer IV morphine without assessment D. Wait until the
procedure is over to intervene
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Signs of pain include “high-pitched, intense cry… grimace… rigid
extremities.” Interventions: “Non-pharma—skin to skin, pacifier, sweeties, swaddle,
contain them.” These are appropriate first-line.
A nurse is using the NIPS scale. Which finding would increase the pain score?
A. Relaxed facial expression B. No cry C. Relaxed arms and legs D. Vigorous
crying
Correct answer: D
Rationale: NIPS assigns higher points for “vigorous crying (loud scream, shrill,
continuous)” and for tense, flexed extremities and grimacing.
A newborn of a diabetic mother (IDM) is large for gestational age with poor
muscle tone and tremors. Which complication is the nurse most concerned
about?
A. Hypercalcemia B. Hypoglycemia C. Hyperbilirubinemia only D.
Polycythemia only
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The slides note: “Fetus produces excessive insulin… when cut off from
mom baby becomes hypoglycemic… signs: jittery/tremors, cold, irritability or
lethargy, resp distress.”
