Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Practice Exam

For a preterm neonate who required resuscitation at birth, what is a key part of their care?

1. Oral feeding to prevent hypoglycemia

2. A chest x-ray to rule out pneumothorax

3. Insertion of urinary catheter to monitor output

4. Immediate discharge planning

The correct answer is: A chest x-ray to rule out pneumothorax

In the care of a preterm neonate who required resuscitation at birth, obtaining a chest x-ray is a critical assessment step to rule out potential complications such as pneumothorax. This imaging is important because preterm infants are at increased risk for respiratory issues including pneumothorax, particularly if they experienced significant respiratory distress during resuscitation. A chest x-ray can confirm the presence of air in the pleural space and guide further management to ensure the neonate's respiratory status is stable. While oral feeding may become an important aspect of care as the infant progresses, it is not a priority immediately following resuscitation when assessing for acute complications. Similarly, while monitoring urinary output can be essential for ongoing care, the insertion of a urinary catheter is not typically necessary for immediate post-resuscitation evaluation. Immediate discharge planning, though important in the overall care process, would not be relevant to the immediate needs of a preterm neophyte requiring ongoing medical assessment and stabilization. Thus, the chest x-ray serves as a fundamental part of the immediate evaluative process to ensure that the neonate is not facing critical respiratory complications.