Chapter 17: Ricci, Kyle, & Carter Labor and Delivery

A 12-hour-old infant is receiving IV fluids for polycythemia. For which complication should a nurse monitor this client?

fluid overload

The nurse describes the changes in stool that a new mother would see when feeding her newborn formula. Which description best indicates what the mother would observe after several days? You Selected:

yellow-green, pasty, unpleasant-smelling stool

The nurse is assessng a newborn male in the presence of the parents and notes that he has a hypospadias. How should the nurse respond when questioned by the parents as to what this means?

"His urinary meatus in located on the under surface of the glans."

A woman who is about to be discharged after a vaginal birth notices a flea-like rash on her newborn's chest that consists of tiny red lesions all across the nipple line. What is the best response from the nurse when explaining this to the woman?

"It is a normal skin finding in a newborn."

The mother of a 1-day-old newborn calls the nurse alarmed and asks the nurse to hurry to her room because there is something wrong with her baby. The nurse arrives to find the newborn lying on his crib on his side, awake and crying with one side of his body a dark red color and the other side of his body is pale. What would the nurse tell this mother?

"This is a harlequin sign and is a normal finding in newborns. It usually occurs when the infant is crying or when he is lying on his side."

The newborn weighing 6 lb 6 oz (2856 g), now weighs 5 lbs 14 oz (2632 g), 2 days later. Which response should the nurse prioritize to address the mother's concerns about the weight loss?

"This is a normal response."

The heart rate of the newborn in the first few minutes after birth will be in which range?

120 to 180 bpm

A nurse is assessing a newborn's temperature. Which reading would the nurse document as normal?

37.0° C (98.6° F)

A nurse is caring for an infant with an elevated bilirubin level who is under phototherapy. What evaluation data would best indicate that the newborn's jaundice is improving?

Bilirubin level went from 15 to 11.

The nurse is assessing reflexes in a newborn infant. What can the nurse do to elicit the rooting reflex?

Gently stroke the newborn's cheek.

What is the first action taken by a nurse caring for a newborn with suspected hypoglycemia?

Perform a heel stick to obtain a blood sample for testing for glucose level.

A nurse does an initial assessment on a newborn and notes a pulsation over the anterior fontanelle that corresponds with the newborn's heart rate. How would the nurse interpret this?

It is normal to feel pulsations that correlate with the newborn's heart rate over the anterior fontanelle

A nursing student is preparing a class for new mothers about adaptations they can expect in their newborns. Which information about newborn vision should the student include in the presentation?

Newborns have the ability to focus only on objects in close proximity.

A nurse is assessing a newborn with the parents. The nurse explains that which aspect of newborn behavior is an important indication of neurologic development and function?

Reflex

A client gives birth to a baby at a local health care facility. The nurse observes that the infant is fussy and begins to move her hands to her mouth and suck on her hand and fingers. How should the nurse interpret these findings?

The infant is attempting self-consoling maneuvers.

Which statement is true regarding fetal and newborn senses?

The rooting reflex is an example that the newborn has a sense of touch.

A newborn has a 5-minute Apgar score of 9. What intervention should the nurse take for this client?

Wrap the infant in a blanket and hand to the mother for bonding.

The nurse walks into a client's room and notes a small fan blowing on the mother as she holds her infant. The nurse should explain this can result in the infant losing body heat based on which mechanism?

convection

A nurse is explaining to a new mother that her newborn is susceptible to both dehydration and overhydration. The nurse integrates knowledge of which aspect as the underlying mechanism for this risk? Select all that apply.

reduced glomerular filtration rate limited concentration ability

At what point should the nurse expect a healthy newborn to pass meconium?

within 24 hours after birth