Module 5 exam
New parents are getting ready to go home and have received information to help them learn how best to care for the new infant. Which statement indicates that they need additional teaching about how to soothe their newborn if he becomes upset?
"We'll hold off on feeding him for a while because he might be too full."
A nurse is administering prescribed enteral feedings to assist in preparing the gut of a preterm newborn. The nurse integrates understanding of this measure, administering the feedings at which rate?
0.5 to 1 mL/kg/h
The nurse is explaining to the parents about the various laboratory tests which will be conducted on their newborn. The nurse should point out that testing for phenylketonuria will be conducted in which time frame?
2 to 3 days after birth.
Neonatal screening is done before the infant leaves the hospital. Blood is drawn through a heel stick and tested for several disorders that can cause lifelong disabilities. When is the ideal time to collect this specimen?
24 hours after the newborn's first protein feeding
Hypoglycemia in a mature infant is defined as a blood glucose level below which amount?
40 mg/100 mL whole blood
A mother is upset because her newborn has lost 6 ounces since birth 2 days ago. The nurse informs the mother that it is normal for a newborn to lose which percentage of their birth weight within the first week of life?
5% to 10% of their birth weight
The nurse is caing for an infant. Which nursing action will best facilitate psychosocial growth of the infant?
Be consistently attentive to the infant's basic needs.
A full-term infant with spontaneous respiration at birth begins exhibiting signs of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) at 22 hours of age. Which condition would the nurse assess for in this infant?
B-hemolytic, group B streptococcal infection
A mother asks when a preterm infant receives basic immunizations. Which response by the nurse is most accurate?
Basic immunizations are given according to the chronologic age of an infant.
A newborn's vital signs are documented by the nurse and are as follows: HR 144, RR- 36, BP- 128/78, and T- 98.6℉ (37℃). Which finding would be concerning to the nurse?
Blood Pressure The blood pressure of a newborn should be quite low—around 60-70 over 35 to 50. The heart rate and respiratory rate are both high, which are normal findings. The temperature falls within a normal range of 97.7℉ to 99.5℉ (36.5℃ to 37.5℃).
A nurse is teaching a new mother about how newborns regulate their temperature. As part of the teaching, the nurse explains brown fat. Which information would the nurse include?
Brown fat is brown and rich in blood vessels and nerve endings. The newborn keeps itself warm by oxidizing brown fat in response to exposure to the cold. Only mature newborns have brown fat. The most common places to find brown fat are the scapulae, neck, mediastinum, and areas near the kidneys and adrenals.
A 30-minute-old newborn starts crying in a high-pitched manner and cannot be consoled by the mother. Which action should the nurse prioritize if jitteriness is also noted and the infant is unable to breastfeed?
Check blood glucose. One of the primary signs/symptoms of hypoglycemia in newborn infants is jitteriness and irritability. Anytime an infant is suspected of having hypoglycemia, the nurse needs to check the blood glucose level. Cold stress and pain are potential considerations to rule out if hypoglycemia is not the cause; however, jitteriness is not a recognized sign of these.
The nurse has admitted a small for gestational age infant (SGA) to the observation nursery from the birth room. Which action would the nurse prioritize in the newborn's care plan?
Closely monitor temperature.
The nurse is bathing a newborn for the first time. Place in order how the nurse would perform these tasks during the bathing procedure. Use all options.
Fill a tub with warm water and add a mild soap. Using a soft washcloth, wash the newborn all over. Comb the hair to remove any dried blood. Take the newborn's axillary temperature. Cover the head with a cap, apply a diaper and dress the newborn. Swaddle in a warm blanket and place in an open crib.
A newborn is identifies as extremely low birth weight placing the newborn's weight at which level?
Less than 1,000 g.
Which intervention should a nurse implement to promote thermal regulation in a preterm newborn?
Observe for clinical signs of cold stress such as weak cry.
A couple has just given birth to a baby who has low Apgar scores due to asphyxia from prolonged cord compression. The neonatologist has given a poor prognosis to the newborn, who is not expected to live. Which interventions are appropriate at this time? Select all that apply.
Offer to pray with the family if appropriate. Initiate spiritual comfort by calling the hospital clergy, if appropriate. Respect variations in the family's spiritual needs and readiness.
A nurse is caring for a newborn with transient tachypnea. What nursing interventions should the nurse perform while providing supportive care to the newborn? Select all that apply.
Provide oxygen supplementation. Ensure the newborn's warmth. Observe respiratory status frequently.
The nursery nurse notes that one of the newborn infants has white patches on his tongue that look like milk curds. What action would be appropriate for the nurse to take?
Report the finding to the pediatrician. Although the finding looks like a milk curd, if the white patch remains after feeding, the pediatrician needs to be notified. The likely cause of the white patch on the tongue is a fungal infection called Candida albicans, which the newborn probably contracted while passing through the birth canal. The nurse should not try to remove the patches.
Parents tell the nurse that they have been told to keep their newborn away from windows and be sure to cover the baby with a light blanket. They do not understand why this is necessary. What rationale would the nurse provide for this care?
Since newborns cannot shiver to produce heat, parents need to be sure to keep them covered up and away from sources of heat loss like a window.
An infant born via a cesarean delivery appears to be transitioning well; however, the nurse predicts that she will note which common assessment finding in this infant?
Tachypnea The infant born from a cesarean birth has not had the opportunity to exit the birth canal and experience the squeezing of fluid from the lungs. The lungs have more amniotic fluid than the lungs of a baby from a vaginal birth and are at greater risk for respiratory complications, such as tachypnea. An infant born by cesarean birth is not at increased risk for hyperthermia, hypoglycemia, or a cardiac murmur.
A mother who is 4 days postpartum and is breastfeeding expresses to the nurse that her breast seems to be tender and engorged. Which suggestions should the nurse give to the mother to relieve breast engorgement? Select all that apply.
Take warm-to-hot showers to encourage milk release. Express some milk manually before breastfeeding. Apply warm compresses to the breasts prior to nursing.
A nurse is concerned that a 1-day-old newborn is becoming ill and may be septic. What signs of distress would validate the nurse's concerns?
Temperature instability
The AGPAR score is based on which 5 parameters?
The AGPAR score is based on which 5 parameters?
A preterm newborn has just received synthetic surfactant through an endotracheal tube by a syringe. Which intervention should the nurse implement at this point?
Tip the infant into an upright position. It's important the infant is tipped to an upright position following administration of surfactant and the infant's airway is not suctioned for as long a period as possible after administration of surfactant to help it reach lower lung areas and avoid suctioning the drug away. A blood sample may be taken to rule out a streptococcal infection, which mimics the signs of RDS, but this would have been done before administration of surfactant. The infant should not be placed supine in a radiant heat warmer at this time but should be held in an upright position.
A first-time mother informs the nurse that she is unable to breastfeed her newborn through the day as she is usually away at work. She adds that she wants to express her breast milk and store it for her newborn to have later. What instruction would be correct to offer the mother to ensure the safety of the stored expressed breast milk?
Use the sealed and chilled milk within 24 hours. The nurse should instruct the woman to use the sealed and chilled milk within 24 hours. The nurse should not instruct the woman to use frozen milk within 6 months of obtaining it, to use microwave ovens to warm chilled milk, or to refreeze the used milk and reuse it. Instead, the nurse should instruct the woman to use frozen milk within 3 months of obtaining it, to avoid using microwave ovens to warm chilled milk, and to discard any used milk and never refreeze it.
A nurse removes and discards a newborn's diaper before placing the newborn on the scales for a daily weight. The nurse realizes there are no diapers at the scales. What will the nurse do?
Wrap the newborn in a blanket and carry the newborn to get another diaper.
A preterm infant is experiencing cold stress after birth. For which symptom should the nurse assess to best validate the problem?
apnea Preterm newborns are at a greater risk for cold stress than term or postterm newborns. Cold stress can cause hypoglycemia, increased respiratory distress and apnea, and metabolic acidosis. Preterm infants lack the ability to shiver in response to cold stress.
A nurse is assessing a newborn's gestational age, When determining neuromuscular maturity, which parameters would the nurse assess? Select all that apply.
arm recoil scarf sign
The nursing instructor is conducting a class explaining the various causes of jaundice in a newborn infant. The instructor determines additional education is warranted after the class chooses which factor as being responsible for newborn jaundice?
bilirubin hyperexcretion Overexcretion of bilirubin would not cause jaundice. Bilirubin overproduction, decreased bilirbuin conjugation or conversion, and impaired bilirubin excretion would cause hyperbilirubinemia, which leads to jaundice.
A 24-hour-old, full-term, small-for-gestational-age neonate is being assessed.
blood pressure baseline of 140/90 mm Hg BMI under 17 positive for TORCH infections hemoglobin 7g/dL
The nurse is admitting a 10-pound (4.5-kg) newborn to the nursery. What is important for the nurse to monitor during the transition period?
blood sugar Most facilities have protocols to guide nursing care in the treatment of hypoglycemia. Many pediatricians have preprinted orders that can be initiated if the glucose level falls below a predetermined level (usually 40-50 mg/dL).
A nurse is assessing a term neonate and notes transient tachypnea. When reviewing the mother's history, which conditions would the nurse most likely find as contributing to this finding? Select all that apply.
cesarean birth use of heavy sedation during labor
A newborn does not breathe spontaneously at birth. The nurse administers oxygen by bag and mask. If oxygen is entering the lungs, the nurse should notice that the:
chest rises with each bag compression.
The ability of the nurse to identify irregular findings during a physical assessment aids in rapid diagnosis and treatment of possible complications. The nurse assesses a newborn and notes tachycardia. The nurse notifies the health care provider based on the understanding that further assessment is necessary for which condition?
drug withdrawal Tachycardia may be found with volume depletion, cardiorespiratory disease, drug withdrawal, and hyperthyroidism.
The infant is born with copious secretions in the mouth and nose. When using a bulb syringe to remove secretions, the nurse might observe what response from the infant?
heart rate of 88 beats per minute Oral-pharnygeal suctioning can stimulate the vagal nerve resulting in bradycardia. The respiratory rate does not change during suctioning.
Which laboratory test results would the nurse consider as a normal finding in a newborn soon after birth?
hemoglobin: 17.5 g/dL Hemoglobin typically ranges from 17 to 20 g/dL. White blood cells are initially elevated soon after birth as a result of birth trauma, typically ranging from 10,000 to 30,000/mm3. The newborn's platelet count is the same as that for an adult, ranging between 100,000 and 300,000/uL. After birth, the red blood cell count gradually increases as the cell size decreases. Normal count ranges from 5,100,000 to 5,800,000/uL.
A nurse is analyzing a journal article that explains the changes at birth from fetal to newborn circulation. The nurse can point out the closure of the ductus arteriosus is related to which event after completing the article?
higher oxygen content of the circulating blood The first few breaths greatly increase the oxygen content of circulating blood. This chemical change (i.e., higher oxygen content of the blood) contributes to the closing of the ductus arteriosus, which eventually becomes a ligament. A drop in the pressure results in a reversal of pressures in the right and left atria, causing the foramen ovale to close, which redirects blood to the lungs. A drop in blood pressure and higher oxygen levels at the respiratory centers of the brain do not result in the closure of the foramen ovale.
A nurse assisting in a birth notices that the amniotic fluid is stained greenish black as the baby is being born. Which intervention should the nurse implement as a result of this finding?
intubation and suctioning of the trachea Although there is some dispute regarding whether all infants with meconium staining need intubation, those with severe staining are usually intubated and meconium is suctioned from their trachea and bronchi. The nurse should not administer oxygen under pressure (bag and mask) until a meconium stained infant has been intubated and suctioned, so the pressure of the oxygen does not drive small plugs of meconium farther down into the lungs, worsening the irritation and obstruction. Gently shaking the infant and flicking the sole of his foot are methods of stimulating breathing in an infant experiencing apnea.
A nurse is assessing a newborn's gestational age. Which parameter would the nurse evaluate to assess physical maturity? Select all that apply.
lanugo genitals Physical maturity indicators include skin, lanugo, plantar surface, breast, eye-ear, and genitals. Arm recoil, posture, and the scarf sign are used to evaluate neuromuscular maturity.
The nurse is preparing discharge teaching for a young couple and their infant. Which axillary temperatures should the nurse point out should be reported to the primary care provider?
less than 97.7° F (36.5° C) or greater than 100° F (37.8° C)
Assessment of a newborn reveals tiny white pinpoint papules on a newborn's nose. The nurse documents this finding as:
milia
A nurse needs to monitor the blood glucose levels of a newborn under observation at a health care facility. When should the nurse check the newborn's initial glucose level?
on admission to the nursery Typically, a newborn's blood glucose levels are assessed with use of a heel stick sample of blood on admission to the nursery, not 4 or 24 hours after admission to the nursery. It is also not necessary or even reasonable to check the glucose level only after the newborn has been fed.
The parents note the nurse is preparing to transport their newborn to the nursery using a special warmer. When asked why this is being used, the nurse will explain it will prevent which time of heat loss?
radiation
A nurse is conducting an in-service program for a group of nurses newly hired to work in the labor and birth unit. Part of the program focuses on the neonate and the various mechanisms of heat loss that can occur. Place the mechanisms below in the order that the nurse would describe them as accounting for heat loss from greatest to least. All options must be used.
radiation convection evaporation conduction
All the options are signs of respiratory distress in the newborn except:
respiratory rate >50 breaths/minute. Coughing and sneezing are normal reflexes present in newborns. The expected respiratory rate of newborn is 30 to 60 breaths per minute.
A newborn girl who was born at 38 weeks of gestation weighs 2000 g and is below the 10th percentile in weight. The nurse recognizes that this girl will be placed in which classification?
term, small for gestational age, and low-birth-weight infant Infants born before term (before the beginning of the 38th week of pregnancy) are classified as preterm infants, regardless of their birth weight. Term infants are those born after the beginning of week 38 and before week 42 of pregnancy. Infants who fall between the 10th and 90th percentiles of weight for their gestational age, whether they are preterm, term, or postterm, are considered appropriate for gestational age (AGA). Infants who fall below the 10th percentile of weight for their age are considered small for gestational age (SGA). Those who fall above the 90th percentile in weight are considered large for gestational age (LGA). Still another term used is low-birth-weight (LBW; one weighing under 2500 g at birth). Those weighing 1000 to 1500 g are very-low-birth-weight (VLB). Those born weighing 500 to 1000 g are considered extremely very-low-birth-weight infants (EVLB).
The nurse determines a newborn is small-for-gestational age based on which characteristics?
wasted appearance of extremities, thin umbilical cord, and reduced subcutaneous fat stores The nurse should perform a thorough physical examination of the newborn and closely observe the newborn for typical SGA characteristics, which include the following: a newborn head that is disproportionately large compared with rest of body; a wasted appearance of extremities with reduced subcutaneous fat stores; a reduced amount of breast tissue; poor muscle tone over buttocks and cheeks; and a thin umbilical cord.
A nurse is called into the room of one of the clients where the grandparents are visiting. The grandmother is visibly upset, and says "Just look at my grandson! His head is all soft and swollen here and it shouldn't be. The doctor injured him when he was born." The nurse assesses the newborn and finds an area of swelling about the size of a half-dollar at the center of the upper scalp. The nurse determines this finding is most likely which condition?
Caput succedaneum Caput succedaneum is swelling of the soft tissue of the scalp caused by pressure of the presenting part on a partially dilated cervix or trauma from a vacuum-assisted delivery. This finding is often of concern for the families. Reassure them that the caput will decrease in a few days without treatment. Increased intracranial pressure would involve the entire scalp and not just a small portion. There would also be other neurologic signs accompanying it. Molding is an elongated head shape caused by overlapping of the cranial bones as the fetus moves through the birth canal. This will also resolve in a few days without treatment. The Harlequin sign is characterized by a clown-suit-like appearance of the newborn where the skin is dark red on one side of the body and the other side is pale. This is a harmless condition which occurs most frequently with vigorous crying or with the infant lying on his or her side.
