Nursing Care of the Newborn
After birth, while inspecting her newborn, a mother notices a discharge from the nipples of her infant's breasts. She asks why this is happening. How should the nurse respond?
"It's an effect of your own hormones."
A nurse is assessing a newborn in the nursery. What type of respirations does the nurse expect to identify in a healthy newborn?
Abdominal and irregular
An abandoned infant has been brought to the hospital. Ophthalmia neonatorum is diagnosed. What is the nurse's estimate of the infant's age?
About 3 to 4 days
An infant exhibits purulent conjunctivitis on the fourth day of life and is brought to the emergency department. What is the priority nursing action?
Assessing the infant for signs of pneumonia
What should the nurse do to help parents proceed with bonding behaviors immediately after birth?
Delay applying the antibiotic to the newborn's eyes.
A plan of care is created for a term small-for-gestational-age (SGA) neonate who has been admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The goal is for the newborn to reach 5 lb by a specified date. On the specified date the infant weighs 4 lb 2 oz. What should the nurse do next?
Evaluate the problem before altering the plan.
What should the nurse's initial discussion include to best help new parents understand the unique characteristics of a newborn?
Expected movements and behaviors
What should the nurse do to enhance a neonate's behavioral development?
Help the parents stimulate their awake baby through touch, sound, and sight
A client who recently gave birth has myasthenia gravis. For what clinical manifestation should the nurse monitor the newborn?
Hypotonia
A neonate born at 36 weeks' gestation, weighing 2043 g (4 lb 8 oz), is placed under a radiant warmer. An infusion of D10% 0.2 NS is running through an umbilical vein catheter at a rate of 12 mL/hr. Why is it important for the nurse to check the neonate's voidings for specific gravity?
Infants under open radiant warmers are at risk for dehydration.
Shortly after birth a newborn is found to have Erb's palsy. What condition does the nurse suspect caused this problem?
Injury to brachial plexus during birth
A nurse in the newborn nursery receives a call from the emergency department saying that a woman with active herpes virus lesions gave birth in a taxicab while coming to the hospital. What does the nurse consider about the transmission of the herpes virus?
It can be acquired during a vaginal birth.
What does the nursing care for an infant with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) include?
Measuring abdominal girth every 2 hours
The parents of a preterm infant are preparing to take their baby home. What should the nurse do to evaluate the parents' competency in infant care?
Observe the parents while they are giving care to their infant.
After an assessment of a male newborn, the nurse suspects postmaturity. Which observations help confirm this conclusion? Select all that apply.
Profuse scalp hair Parchmentlike skin Creases covering the entire soles
The parents of a preterm newborn visit the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for the first time. They are obviously overwhelmed by the amount of equipment and the tininess of their baby. What is the nurse's most appropriate response to their reaction?
Showing the parents how to touch the baby
While performing bag-and-mask ventilation on a newborn, a nurse does not see the newborn's chest rise. Place the following interventions in order of their priority.
Suction the mouth if there are secretions. Reposition the head Open the mouth slightly Apply the mask for a better seal Assess the neonate's response to these measures.
A nurse is caring for a newborn with a caput succedaneum. What is the priority nursing action?
Supporting the parents
A male born at 28 weeks' gestation weighs 2 lb 12 oz. What does the nurse expect to note when performing an assessment?
Transparent red skin