NBRC Registered Respiratory Therapist – Neonatal/Pediatric Specialty (RRT-NPS) Practice Test

In neonatal CPR, ventilation is crucial because most arrests are due to asphyxia, so the pattern focuses on delivering adequate breaths while still providing chest compressions. The recommended cycle uses a 3:1 compression-to-ventilation ratio: three quick chest compressions followed by one breath, repeated rapidly. If you run this pattern for about 30 cycles per minute, you get roughly 90 compressions and 30 breaths each minute (about 120 events total). This cadence balances restoring circulation with maintaining oxygenation. Ratios with more ventilations or fewer compressions would under-ventilate or under-perfuse, making them less effective in the neonatal context.