Nursing Care of the Newborn Related

Review Nursing Care of the Newborn related questions and content

The nurse is assessing a term neonate delivered to a mother with a history of drug and alcohol abuse. Which finding does the nurse relate to the mother's history?

  • A. Chest circumference is less than the head circumference.
  • B. The neonate's pulse rate increases when the neonate cries.
  • C. When crying, the neonate exhibits an absence of tear production.
  • D. Head circumference is below the 10th percentile of normal for gestational age.
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because a head circumference below the 10th percentile for gestational age can be indicative of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), which is commonly seen in infants of mothers with a history of drug and alcohol abuse. This is due to restricted fetal growth caused by maternal substance abuse.

A, B, and C are incorrect:
A: Chest circumference being less than head circumference is not directly related to maternal drug and alcohol abuse.
B: The neonate's pulse rate increasing when crying is a normal physiological response and is not specific to the mother's history of substance abuse.
C: Absence of tear production when crying is not a typical finding related to maternal drug and alcohol abuse.