SAUDI DIPLOMA TRAINING PROGRAM
NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE NURSING
Promotion Examination
Written Examination Format:
• A written examination shall consist of one paper with not less than 100 MCQs
with a single best answer (one correct answer out of four options).
• The examination shall contain type K2 questions (interpretation, analysis,
reasoning and decision making) and type K1 questions (recall and
comprehension).
• The examination shall include basic concepts and clinical topics relevant to
the specialty.
• Clinical presentation questions include history, clinical finding and patient
approach. Diagnosis and investigation questions; include the possible
diagnosis and diagnostic methods. Management questions; including
treatment and clinical management, either therapeutic or
nontherapeutic, and complications of management. Materials and
Instruments questions; including material properties, usage, and selection
of instruments and equipment used. Health maintenance questions;
include health promotion, disease prevention, risk factors assessment,
and prognosis.
Passing Score for Promotion Exam:
The trainee's performance is assessed in each of the evaluation formulas
according to the following scoring system:
Score Less than 50% 50% – 59.4% 60% - 69.4% More than 70%
Description Clear Fail Borderline Fail Borderline Pass Clear Pass
1. To upgrade the trainee from a training level to the next level, She/he
must obtain at least a Borderline Pass in each evaluation form.
2. The program director may recommend to the local supervision
committee to request the promotion of the trainee who did not meet
the previous promotion requirement according to the following:
A. In case that the trainee gets a borderline Fail result in one of
the evaluation forms, the remaining evaluation forms must be
passed with Clear Pass in at least one of them.
B. In case that the trainee gets a borderline Fail result in two of
the evaluation forms to a maximum, provided they do not fall
under the same theme (Knowledge, Attitude, Skills). The
remaining evaluation forms must be passed with Clear Pass in
at least two of them.
C. The promotion must be approved in this case by the scientific
council for the specialization.
Saudi Diploma Promotion Examination; Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing – 2022 – v.1
Blueprint Outlines:
No. Section Percentage
1 Foundations of neonatal nursing 15%
2 Foundations of neonatal nursing practicum 20%
3 Neonatal resuscitation and stabilization of the newborn 20%
4 Neonatal pathophysiology 20%
5 Essential nursing practice in the NICU 20%
6 Ethics in Nursing and Care Dimensions 5%
Total 100%
Note:
• Blueprint distributions of the examination may differ up to +/-5% in
each category.
• Percentages and content are subject to change at any time. See the
SCFHS website for the most up-to-date information.
• Research, Ethics, Professionalism, and Patient Safety are incorporated
within various domains.
Saudi Diploma Promotion Examination; Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing – 2022 – v.1
Suggested References:
1. Fanaroff, A. and Fanaroff, M. (2012) Klaus and Fanaroff care of the
high-risk neonate: Expert Consult-Online and Print, 5th ed.,
Philadelphia, USA: Elsevier Saunders, ISBN 978-1416040019.
2. Boxwell G. (2010) Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing, 2nd ed., ISBN-13:
978-0415477550.
3. Cloherty and Stark's Manual of Neonatal Care 8th Edition, Kindle
Edition
4. Verklan, M. T., Walden, M., & Forest, S. (Eds.). (2020). Core curriculum
for neonatal intensive care nursing e-book. Elsevier Health Sciences.
5. Hansen, A. R., Eichenwald, E. C., Stark, A. R., & Martin, C. R. (2016).
Cloherty and Stark's Manual of neonatal care. Lippincott Williams &
Wilkins.
Crash Courses:
• Outline of each course including suggested reading references given by
the provider.
Note:
This list is intended for use as a study aid only. SCFHS does not intend the list
to imply endorsement of these specific references, nor are the exam
questions necessarily taken solely from these sources.
Saudi Diploma Promotion Examination; Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing – 2022 – v.1
Example Questions
EXAMPLE OF K1 QUESTIONS
Question 1
A male infant was born at 32-weeks with a birth weight of 1320g. The infant
showed ineffective ventilation from the first postnatal minute, and positive
ventilation pressure with a bag and mask was started immediately for him.
Respiratory distress occurred at every attempt to withdraw ventilatory
support.
Which of the following is the best described the clinical features of respiratory
distress syndrome?
A. A self-resolving in approximately 24 hours.
B. Induced by hyperthermia in a preterm infant.
C. Caused by efficient amount of a molecule called surfactant.
D. Characterized by tachypnea, nasal flaring, chest retractions, or
grunting.
EXAMPLE OF K2 QUESTIONS
Question 1
A baby is born at 29 weeks following a large maternal antepartum hemorrhage.
staff arrive in the delivery room just as the baby is being transferred to the
resuscitation platform.
Which of the following is most likely appropriate action that staff should
undertake firstly?
A. Start newborn resuscitation immediately.
B. Establish an airway patency through an endotracheal tube
insertion.
C. Dry the baby and wrap in several warm towels, then assess baby
conditions.
D. Place the baby in a sterile plastic bag up to the neck, cover the
head with a hat and place the baby under a radiant warmer.
Saudi Diploma Promotion Examination; Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing – 2022 – v.1
