RNC-OB Exam Format | RNC-OB Course Contents | RNC-OB Course Outline | RNC-OB Exam Syllabus | RNC-OB Exam Objectives

Exam Code: RNC-OB
Exam Name: NCC Inpatient Obstetric Nursing
Exam Type: Computer-based, multiple-choice questions
Number of Questions: 175 questions (150 scored, 25 unscored pretest questions)
Time Allotted: 3 hours
Passing Score: Scaled score of 700 (on a scale of 300-900)

- Maternal/Birthing Person Complications Affecting the Fetus and Newborn
- Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy
- Chronic
- Gestational
- Preeclampsia/Eclampsia
- Superimposed Preeclampsia
- HELLP syndrome
- Diabetes
- Preexisting (Type I and Type II)
- Gestational
- Diabetic Ketoacidosis
- Maternal/Birthing Person Cardiac Disease/Anomalies
- Infectious Diseases
- Sexually transmitted infections
- Chlamydia
- Gonorrhea
- Herpes
- HIV infection
- Human papilloma virus/Dysplasias
- Syphilis
- Viral infections (e.g. influenza, COVID)
- Bacterial infections (e.g. group B Streptococcus, UTI/Pyelonephritis)
- Hematologic Disorders
- Anemia
- Thrombocytopenia/Thrombophilia
- Hemolytic disease
- Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)
- Rh incompatibility
- Sickle cell disease
- Respiratory Disorders
- Asthma
- Pulmonary edema
- Pulmonary embolism
- Liver Disorders
- Acute fatty liver
- Cholelithiasis
- Cholestasis
- Obesity -Bariatric surgery
- Connective Tissue Disorders
- Thyroid Disorders
- Hyperemesis Gravidarum
- Genetics

- Maternal/Birthing Person Psychosocial & Environmental Factors
- Mental Health Disorders
- Anxiety
- Depression
- ADHD
- Bipolar
- Schizophrenia
- Substance Use Disorder
- Alcohol
- Tobacco/Nicotine/Vaping
- Drugs
- Cocaine
- Subutex/Suboxone
- Over the counter/prescription
- Heroin
- Methadone
- Methamphetamine
- Marijuana
- Fentanyl
- Other Drugs/Substances
- Abuse/Intimate Partner Violence
- Environmental -Toxic waste
- Mercury
- Lead

- Preterm Labor
- Risk Factors
- Diagnostic Criteria
- Management
- Fetal Neuroprotection (Magnesium Sulfate)
- Antenatal Steroids
- Tocolysis
- Cerclage
- Fetal and neonatal complications

- Multiple Gestation
- Monozygotic and Dizygotic
- Dichorionic/Dichorionic
- Monochorionic/Dichorionic
- Monochorionic/Monoamniotic
- Associated Risks and Complications

- Placental Disorders
- Placental Abruption
- Placenta Previa
- Vasa Previa
- Placental Insufficiency
- Placenta Accreta Spectrum (PAS) Disorders

- Antenatal Testing
- Ultrasound
- Assessment of Fetal Growth
- Non-Stress Testing
- Biophysical and Modified Biophysical Profile
- Amniocentesis
- Percutaneous Umbilical Cord Sampling (PUBS)/ Cordocentesis
- Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) and AFP
- Umbilical Artery Doppler Flow Studies

- Electronic Fetal Monitoring
- NICHD Terminology
- Category I, II, III
- Baseline
- Variability
- Accelerations
- Decelerations
- Sinusoidal pattern
- Uterine activity (normal, tachysystole)
- Dysrhythmias
- Artifact
- Signal ambiguity
- Intrauterine Resuscitation

- Non-Electronic Monitoring
- Auscultation/Doppler
- Palpation

- Acid-Base Interpretation
- Cord blood gas evaluation
- Fetal stimulation
- Vibroacoustic
- Scalp

- Physiology of Labor
- Characteristics of True Labor
- Uteroplacental Physiology
- Maternal Physiology

- Assessment and Management of Labor
- General Assessment -Physical assessment (Initial/Ongoing) General Abdominal Vaginal
- Psychosocial
- Stages of Labor (First, Second, Third)
- Characteristics
- Nursing care and interventions
- Promotion of physiologic birth
- Labor Curves
- Labor dysfunction/dystocia (Prolonged, Precipitous)
- Maternal, fetal, and neonatal implications

- Obstetrical and Perioperative Procedures
- Version -Indications and contraindications -Complications -Nursing responsibilities
- Episiotomy -Indications and contraindications -Complications -Nursing responsibilities
- Forceps/vacuum extraction
- Indications and contraindications
- Complications
- Nursing responsibilities
- Cesarean birth
- Indications and contraindications
- Types
- Complications
- Post-anesthesia care
- Nursing responsibilitie
- Vaginal Birth after Cesarean Birth (TOLAC)
- Indications and contraindications
- Complications
- Nursing interventions /support
- Vaginal Breech deliveries
- Vaginal Twin Delivery
- Amnioinfusion

- Pain Management and Coping
- Non-pharmacologic methods
- Relaxation/Aromatherapy
- Breathing
- Positioning
- Coaching
- Hydrotherapy
- Peanut ball/Birthing ball
- TENS unit
- Pharmacological methods
- Systemic
- Nitrous Oxide
- Narcotics
- Sedatives
- Complications
-Regional
- Epidural
- Spinal
- Combined spinal & epidural
- Complications
- General Anesthesia
- Complications
- Nursing responsibilities

- Labor and Obstetric Complications (Nursing management/ intervention)
- Malposition or malpresentation
- Nursing interventions
- Shoulder dystocia
- Maternal/Fetal implications
- Uterine Rupture
- Problems associated with umbilical cord
- Velamentous cord insertion
- Prolapsed cord
- Problems associated with Amniotic Fluid
- Polyhydramnios
- Oligohydramnios
- Rupture of membranes
- Prelabor (preterm)
- Term
- Post term
- Prolonged
- Meconium
- Amniotic fluid embolism (Anaphylactoid syndrome of pregnancy)
- Suspected Chorioamnionitis/Chorioamnionitis
- Sepsis in the Intrapartum Period
- Prolonged Pregnancy
- Definition/risks
- Management
- Fetal and neonatal complications
- Perinatal Loss
- Associated risks and complications
- Management of peri-viability/compatibility with life
- Maternal Morbidity and Mortality

- Induction and Augmentation
- Induction of labor/Cervical Ripening
- Indications and contraindications
- Cervical Readiness (Bishop Score)
- Methods Prostaglandins Mechanical
- Balloon Catheter
- Oxytocin Infusion Amniotomy
-Nursing management and interventions
- Complications

- Recovery and Postpartum Physiology and Complications
- Physiological changes
- Reproductive system
- Other organ systems
- Nursing care of the postpartum patient
- Rh immune globulin
- Involution
- Pain Management
- Perineal assessment (e.g. Lacerations, REEDA)
- Wound care
- Postpartum Complications
- Infection
- Hemorrhage
- Tone
- Tissue
- Trauma
- Traction
- Management (Uterotonics, TXA, Massive
- Transfusion Protocol)
- Thromboembolic
- DVT
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Cardiomyopathy
- Other medical/obstetrical conditions II

- Family Dynamics, Social Determinants of Health, and Discharge Readiness
- Psychosocial/Cultural
- Parent Infant interactions
- Discharge planning and home care
- Contraception
- Patient education
- Self-care
- Warning signs
- Routine neonatal care
- Postpartum Depression Screening
- Bereavement/Grief

- Lactation and Infant Nutrition
- Lactation
- Physiology of lactation
- Nutritional needs during lactation
- Breast/chest feeding techniques
- Complications
- Contraindications to breast/chest feeding
- Care of the non-breast/chest feeding patient
- Infant Nutrition
- Feeding
- Problems/complications

- Newborn Physiology and Complications
- Adaptation to Extrauterine Life (Transition)
- Respiratory changes
- Cardiovascular changes
- Apgar scoring
- Delayed cord clamping
- Thermoregulation
- Skin to skin
- Newborn Assessment
- Physical
- Abnormal findings
- Common congenital anomalies
- Common skin lesions or rashes
- Neural tube defects/Chromosomal abnormalities
- Small for Gestational Age (SGA)
- Large for Gestational Age (LGA)
- Laboratory evaluation
- Thrombocytopenia
- WBC count
- Anemia
- Polycythemia
- ABO incompatibility
- Neurological
- Tone
- Reflexes
- Behavioral states
- Gestational age
- Late preterm infants
- Glucose homeostasis and fluid balance
- Screening (e.g. CHD, Metabolic, Hearing)
- Newborn Resuscitation
- Initial evaluation
- Personnel and equipment
- Indications and techniques
- Indications for transport
- Complications (Initial Assessment/Nursing Interventions)
- Respiratory and cardiovascular emergencies (e.g. Sudden Unexpected Postnatal Collapse)
- Hyperbilirubinemia
- Surgical Emergencies
- Infectious diseases
- Group B Streptococcus
- E-coli
- Hepatitis
- Varicella
- Cytometalovirus (CMV)
- Common sexually transmitted infections
- Birth injuries/trauma
- Cephalohematoma
- Caput succedaneum
- Fractures
- Nerve injury
- Subgaleal hemorrhage
- Infant affected by substance use disorder
- Substance-exposed neonate
- Fetal alcohol syndrome
- Infant of diabetic mother (IDM)
- Legal
- Professional
- Regulation
- Practice
- Staffing issues
- Legal liability
- Consent
- Documentation/medical records
- Negligence/malpractice
- Ethics
- Autonomy
- Beneficence
- Nonmaleficence
- Justice
- Patient Safety/Quality Improvement
- Communication
- Interprofessional practice
- Perinatal Core Measures
- Maternal Safety Bundles
- Evidence-based practice
- Research Terminology
- Reliability
- Validity
- Significance
- Levels of Evidence
- Research utilization