Chapter 27. Care of the Newborn
270. The mother of a newborn calls the clinic and reports that when cleaning the umbilical cord, she noticed that the cord was moist and that discharge was present. What is the most appropriate nursing instruction for this mother? 1. Bring the infant to the clinic. 2. This is a normal occurrence and no further action is needed. 3. Increase the number of times that the cord is cleaned per day. 4. Monitor the cord for another 24 to 48 hours and call the clinic if the discharge continues.
Answer: 1 Rationale: Signs of umbilical cord infection are moistness, oozing, discharge, and a reddened base around the cord. If signs of infection occur, the client should be instructed to notify the primary health care provider (PHCP). If these symptoms occur, antibiotics may be necessary. Options 2, 3, and 4 are not the most appropriate nursing interventions for an umbilical cord infection as described in the question.
273. The nurse in a newborn nursery is monitoring a preterm newborn for respiratory distress syndrome. Which assessment findings should alert the nurse to the possibility of this syndrome? Select all that apply. 1. Cyanosis 2. Tachypnea 3. Hypotension 4. Retractions 5. Audible grunts 6. Presence of a barrel chest
Answer: 1, 2, 4, 5 Rationale: A newborn infant with respiratory distress syndrome may present with clinical signs of cyanosis, tachypnea or apnea, nasal flaring, chest wall retractions, or audible grunts. Hypotension and a barrel chest are not clinical manifestations associated with respiratory distress syndrome.
280. The nurse creates a plan of care for a woman with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and her newborn. The nurse should include which intervention in the plan of care? 1. Monitoring the newborn's vital signs routinely 2. Maintaining standard precautions at all times while caring for the newborn 3. Initiating referral to evaluate for blindness, deafness, learning problems, or behavioral problems 4. Instructing the breast-feeding mother regarding the treatment of the nipples with nystatin ointment
Answer: 2 Rationale: An infant born to a mother infected with HIV must be cared for with strict attention to standard precautions. This prevents the transmission of HIV from the newborn, if infected, to others and prevents transmission of other infectious agents to the possibly immunocompromised newborn. Options 1 and 3 are not associated specifically with the care of a potentially HIV-infected newborn. Mothers infected with HIV should not breast-feed.
276. The nurse notes hypotonia, irritability, and a poor sucking reflex in a full-term newborn on admission to the nursery. The nurse suspects fetal alcohol syndrome and is aware that which additional sign would be consistent with this syndrome? 1. Length of 19 inches 2. Abnormal palmar creases 3. Birth weight of 6 lb, 14 oz (3120 g) 4. Head circumference appropriate for gestational age
Answer: 2 Rationale: Fetal alcohol syndrome, a diagnostic category of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs), is caused by maternal alcohol use during pregnancy. Features of newborns diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome include craniofacial abnormalities, intrauterine growth restriction, cardiac abnormalities, abnormal palmar creases, and respiratory distress. Options 1, 3, and 4 are normal assessment findings in the full-term newborn infant.
274. The postpartum nurse is providing instructions to the mother of a newborn with hyperbilirubinemia who is being breast-fed. The nurse should provide which instruction to the mother? 1. Feed the newborn less frequently. 2. Continue to breast-feed every 2 to 4 hours. 3. Switch to bottle-feeding the infant for 2 weeks. 4. Stop breast-feeding and switch to bottle-feeding permanently.
Answer: 2 Rationale: Hyperbilirubinemia is an elevated serum bilirubin level. At any serum bilirubin level, the appearance of jaundice during the first day of life indicates a pathological process. Early and frequent feeding hastens the excretion of bilirubin. Breast-feeding should be initiated within 2 hours after birth and every 2 to 4 hours thereafter. The infant should not be fed less frequently. Switching to bottle-feeding for 2 weeks or stopping breast-feeding permanently is unnecessary.
271. The nurse in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) receives a telephone call to prepare for the admission of a 43-week gestation newborn with Apgar scores of 1 and 4. In planning for admission of this newborn, what is the nurse's highest priority? 1. Turn on the apnea and cardiorespiratory monitors. 2. Connect the resuscitation bag to the oxygen outlet. 3. Set up the intravenous line with 5% dextrose in water. 4. Set the radiant warmer control temperature at 36.5° C (97.6° F).
Answer: 2 Rationale: The highest priority on admission to the nursery for a newborn with a low Apgar score is the airway, which would involve preparing respiratory resuscitation equipment and oxygen. The remaining options are also important, although they are of lower priority. The newborn would be placed on an apnea and cardiorespiratory monitor. Setting up an intravenous line with 5% dextrose in water would provide circulatory support. The radiant warmer would provide an external heat source, which is necessary to prevent further respiratory distress.
281. The nurse is planning care for a newborn of a mother with diabetes mellitus. What is the priority nursing consideration for this newborn? 1. Developmental delays because of excessive size 2. Maintaining safety because of low blood glucose levels 3. Choking because of impaired suck and swallow reflexes 4. Elevated body temperature because of excess fat and glycogen
Answer: 2 Rationale: The newborn of a diabetic mother is at risk for hypoglycemia, so maintaining safety because of low blood glucose levels would be a priority. The newborn would also be at risk for hyperbilirubinemia, respiratory distress, hypocalcemia, and congenital anomalies. Developmental delays, choking, and an elevated body temperature are not expected problems.
269. The nurse assisted with the birth of a newborn. Which nursing action is most effective in preventing heat loss by evaporation? 1. Warming the crib pad 2. Closing the doors to the room 3. Drying the infant with a warm blanket 4. Turning on the overhead radiant warmer
Answer: 3 Rationale: Evaporation of moisture from a wet body dissipates heat along with the moisture. Keeping the newborn dry by drying the wet newborn at birth prevents hypothermia via evaporation. Hypothermia caused by conduction occurs when the newborn is on a cold surface, such as a cold pad or mattress, and heat from the newborn's body is transferred to the colder object (direct contact). Warming the crib pad assists in preventing hypothermia by conduction. Convection occurs as air moves across the newborn's skin from an open door and heat is transferred to the air. Radiation occurs when heat from the newborn radiates to a colder surface (indirect contact).
282. Which statement reflects a new mother's understanding of the teaching about the prevention of newborn abduction? 1. "I will place my baby's crib close to the door." 2. "Some health care personnel won't have name badges." 3. "I will ask the nurse to attend to my infant if I am napping and my husband is not here." 4. "It's okay to allow the nurse assistant to carry my newborn to the nursery."
Answer: 3 Rationale: Precautions to prevent infant abduction include placing a newborn's crib away from the door, transporting a newborn only in the crib and never carrying the newborn, expecting health care personnel to wear identification that is easily visible at all times, and asking the nurse to attend to the newborn if the mother is napping and no family member is available to watch the newborn (the newborn is never left unattended). If the mother states that she will ask the nurse to watch the newborn while she is sleeping, she has understood the teaching. Options 1, 2, and 4 are incorrect and indicate that the mother needs further teaching.
272. The nurse is assessing a newborn after circumcision and notes that the circumcised area is red with a small amount of bloody drainage. Which nursing action is most appropriate? 1. Apply gentle pressure. 2. Reinforce the dressing. 3. Document the findings. 4. Contact the primary health care provider (PHCP).
Answer: 3 Rationale: The penis is normally red during the healing process after circumcision. A yellow exudate may be noted in 24 hours, and this is part of normal healing. The nurse would expect that the area would be red with a small amount of bloody drainage. Only if the bleeding were excessive would the nurse apply gentle pressure with a sterile gauze. If bleeding cannot be controlled, the blood vessel may need to be ligated, and the nurse would notify the PHCP. Because the findings identified in the question are normal, the nurse would document the assessment findings.
275. The nurse is assessing a newborn who was born to a mother who is addicted to drugs. Which findings should the nurse expect to note during the assessment of this newborn? Select all that apply. 1. Lethargy 2. Sleepiness 3. Irritability 4. Constant crying 5. Difficult to comfort 6. Cuddles when being held
Answer: 3, 4, 5 Rationale: A newborn of a woman who uses drugs is irritable. The infant is overloaded easily by sensory stimulation. The infant may cry incessantly and be difficult to console. The infant would hyperextend and posture rather than cuddle when being held. This infant is not lethargic or sleepy.
278. The nurse administers erythromycin ointment (0.5%) to the eyes of a newborn and the mother asks the nurse why this is performed. Which explanation is best for the nurse to provide about neonatal eye prophylaxis? 1. Protects the newborn's eyes from possible infections acquired while hospitalized. 2. Prevents cataracts in the newborn born to a woman who is susceptible to rubella. 3. Minimizes the spread of microorganisms to the newborn from invasive procedures during labor. 4. Prevents an infection called ophthalmia neonatorum from occurring after birth in a newborn born to a woman with an untreated gonococcal infection.
Answer: 4 Rationale: Erythromycin ophthalmic ointment 0.5% is used as a prophylactic treatment for ophthalmia neonatorum, which is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Preventive treatment of gonorrhea is required by law. Options 1, 2, and 3 are not the purposes for administering this medication to a newborn infant.
277. The nurse is creating a plan of care for a newborn diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome. The nurse should include which priority intervention in the plan of care? 1. Allow the newborn to establish own sleep-rest pattern. 2. Maintain the newborn in a brightly lighted area of the nursery. 3. Encourage frequent handling of the newborn by staff and parents. 4. Monitor the newborn's response to feedings and weight gain pattern.
Answer: 4 Rationale: Fetal alcohol syndrome, a diagnostic category delineated under fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs), is caused by maternal alcohol use during pregnancy. A primary nursing goal for the newborn diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome is to establish nutritional balance after birth. These newborns may exhibit hyperirritability, vomiting, diarrhea, or an uncoordinated sucking and swallowing ability. A quiet environment with minimal stimuli and handling would help establish appropriate sleep-rest cycles in the newborn as well. Options 1, 2, and 3 are inappropriate interventions.
283. The nurse prepares to administer a phytonadione (vitamin K) injection to a newborn, and the mother asks the nurse why her infant needs the injection. What best response should the nurse provide? 1. "Your newborn needs the medicine to develop immunity." 2. "The medicine will protect your newborn from being jaundiced." 3. "Newborns have sterile bowels, and the medicine promotes the growth of bacteria in the bowel." 4. "Newborns are deficient in vitamin K, and this injection prevents your newborn from bleeding."
Answer: 4 Rationale: Phytonadione is necessary for the body to synthesize coagulation factors. It is administered to the newborn to prevent bleeding disorders. It also promotes liver formation of the clotting factors II, VII, IX, and X. Newborns are vitamin K-deficient because the bowel does not have the bacteria necessary to synthesize fat-soluble vitamin K. The normal flora in the intestinal tract produces vitamin K. The newborn's bowel does not support the normal production of vitamin K until bacteria adequately colonize it. The bowel becomes colonized by bacteria as food is ingested. Vitamin K does not promote the development of immunity or prevent the infant from becoming jaundiced.
279. The nurse is preparing to care for a newborn receiving phototherapy. Which interventions should be included in the plan of care? Select all that apply. 1. Avoid stimulation. 2. Decrease fluid intake. 3. Expose all of the newborn's skin. 4. Monitor skin temperature closely. 5. Reposition the newborn every 2 hours. 6. Cover the newborn's eyes with eye shields or patches.
Answer: 4, 5, 6 Rationale: Phototherapy (bili-light or bili-blanket) is the use of intense fluorescent light to reduce serum bilirubin levels in the newborn. Adverse effects from treatment, such as eye damage, dehydration, or sensory deprivation, can occur. Interventions include exposing as much of the newborn's skin as possible; however, the genital area is covered. The newborn's eyes are also covered with eye shields or patches, ensuring that the eyelids are closed when shields or patches are applied. The shields or patches are removed at least once per shift to inspect the eyes for infection or irritation and to allow eye contact. The nurse measures the lamp energy output to ensure efficacy of the treatment (done with a special device known as a photometer), monitors skin temperature closely, and increases fluids to compensate for water loss. The newborn may have loose green stools and green-colored urine. The newborn's skin color is monitored with the fluorescent light turned off every 4 to 8 hours and is monitored for bronze baby syndrome, a grayish brown discoloration of the skin. The newborn is repositioned every 2 hours, and stimulation is provided. After treatment, the newborn is monitored for signs of hyperbilirubinemia because rebound elevations can occur after therapy is discontinued.