NRSG 1320 EXAM 4 (PART 1) EXAM 2025
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
How long is the neonatal period? - ANS Birth through the first 28 days of life
What is the focus of nursing care during the neonatal period? - ANS Protect and support the
neonates as they undergo numeous physiological changes and adapt to extrauterine life
What are five major goals for the neonatal period? - ANS - maintaining body heat
- maintaining respiratory function
- decreasing risk for infection
- assisting parents in providing appropriate nutrition and hydration
- assisting parents in learning to care for their newborn
What is transition? - ANS Fetal movement from intrauterine to extrauterine life with their
own circulating blood
Transfer from total dependence on the placenta for every life-sustaining need from
oxygenation and nutrition to total independence
When does transition begin? - ANS Once the umbilcal cord is clamped and the infant takes
the first breath
What are the four factors that influence the initiation of a newborn's first breath? - ANS 1.
Chemical changes (intenal stimuli)
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,2. Sensory (external stimuli)
3. Thermal (external stimuli)
4. Mechanical (external stimuli)
*Each factor stimulates the respiratory center located within the medulla of the brain*
What chemical changes influence the initiation of a newborn's first breath? - ANS A brief
period of asphyxia occurs in all newborns during the birth process
Hypoxia
- causes blood oxygen levels and pH to dro
- causes blood carbon dioxide levels to rise and prompt the respiratory center within the
medulla to initiate breathing
- acidosis results
*Prolonged asphyxia that accompanies a traumatic birth is abnormal and may cause a CNS
mediated respiratory depression*
What sensory changes influence the initiation of a newborn's first breath? - ANS Extreme
sensory overload
- touch
- light
- sound
What temperature changes changes influence the initiation of a newborn's first breath? -
ANS Drastic changes in temperature helps to stimulate the initiation of respirations
Sensors in the skin respond to the temperature changes and send signals to the respiratory
system in the brain
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, What mechanical changes influence the initiation of a newborn's first breath? - ANS Removal
of fluid from the lungs with the subsequent replacement of air initiates respirations
Chest compression
- occurs during vaginal birth which increases the intrathoracic pressure and helps to push fluid
out of the lungs
- this facilitates a small passive inspiration of air which replaces fluid that has been squeezed
out
*Careful attention should be placed on Cesarean delivered newborns due to not getting the
squeeze as described above*
What are normal lung sounds during early auscultation? - ANS Wet rales early on until fluid
absorbs (up to 24 hours)
What is the function of surfactant? - ANS - maintains alveolar stability
- a slippery, detergent-like lipoprotein
- causes a decreased surface tension within the alveoli which allows for alveolar reexpansion
after each exhalation
Why are preterm infants at greater risk for respiratory distress syndrome? How can we combat
this? - ANS Produced in large quantities between 34-46 weeks of gestation, so preterm
babies may not have produced enough surfactant
Mothers are typically given steroids about 24 hours before delivery to help the baby's lungs
mature
Which steroid is the drug of choice for preterm labor with risk of RDS? - ANS Betamethasone
IM
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
How long is the neonatal period? - ANS Birth through the first 28 days of life
What is the focus of nursing care during the neonatal period? - ANS Protect and support the
neonates as they undergo numeous physiological changes and adapt to extrauterine life
What are five major goals for the neonatal period? - ANS - maintaining body heat
- maintaining respiratory function
- decreasing risk for infection
- assisting parents in providing appropriate nutrition and hydration
- assisting parents in learning to care for their newborn
What is transition? - ANS Fetal movement from intrauterine to extrauterine life with their
own circulating blood
Transfer from total dependence on the placenta for every life-sustaining need from
oxygenation and nutrition to total independence
When does transition begin? - ANS Once the umbilcal cord is clamped and the infant takes
the first breath
What are the four factors that influence the initiation of a newborn's first breath? - ANS 1.
Chemical changes (intenal stimuli)
COPYRIGHT © 2025 FYNDLAY ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,2. Sensory (external stimuli)
3. Thermal (external stimuli)
4. Mechanical (external stimuli)
*Each factor stimulates the respiratory center located within the medulla of the brain*
What chemical changes influence the initiation of a newborn's first breath? - ANS A brief
period of asphyxia occurs in all newborns during the birth process
Hypoxia
- causes blood oxygen levels and pH to dro
- causes blood carbon dioxide levels to rise and prompt the respiratory center within the
medulla to initiate breathing
- acidosis results
*Prolonged asphyxia that accompanies a traumatic birth is abnormal and may cause a CNS
mediated respiratory depression*
What sensory changes influence the initiation of a newborn's first breath? - ANS Extreme
sensory overload
- touch
- light
- sound
What temperature changes changes influence the initiation of a newborn's first breath? -
ANS Drastic changes in temperature helps to stimulate the initiation of respirations
Sensors in the skin respond to the temperature changes and send signals to the respiratory
system in the brain
COPYRIGHT © 2025 FYNDLAY ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
, What mechanical changes influence the initiation of a newborn's first breath? - ANS Removal
of fluid from the lungs with the subsequent replacement of air initiates respirations
Chest compression
- occurs during vaginal birth which increases the intrathoracic pressure and helps to push fluid
out of the lungs
- this facilitates a small passive inspiration of air which replaces fluid that has been squeezed
out
*Careful attention should be placed on Cesarean delivered newborns due to not getting the
squeeze as described above*
What are normal lung sounds during early auscultation? - ANS Wet rales early on until fluid
absorbs (up to 24 hours)
What is the function of surfactant? - ANS - maintains alveolar stability
- a slippery, detergent-like lipoprotein
- causes a decreased surface tension within the alveoli which allows for alveolar reexpansion
after each exhalation
Why are preterm infants at greater risk for respiratory distress syndrome? How can we combat
this? - ANS Produced in large quantities between 34-46 weeks of gestation, so preterm
babies may not have produced enough surfactant
Mothers are typically given steroids about 24 hours before delivery to help the baby's lungs
mature
Which steroid is the drug of choice for preterm labor with risk of RDS? - ANS Betamethasone
IM
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