Upon assessing a newborn immediately after delivery, you note that the infant is breathing spontaneously and has a heart rate of 80 beats/min. What is the MOST appropriate initial management for this newborn?
- A. Assess the newborn's skin condition and color.
- B. Initiate positive-pressure ventilations.
- C. Start chest compressions and contact medical control.
- D. Provide blow-by oxygen with oxygen tubing.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In a newborn with a heart rate below 100 beats/min, the most appropriate initial management is to initiate positive-pressure ventilations. This helps support the newborn's respiratory effort and oxygenation in the setting of a low heart rate, ensuring adequate oxygen supply to vital organs. Assessing the skin condition and color, starting chest compressions, or providing blow-by oxygen are not the priority in this scenario where respiratory support is crucial.
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Which of the following signs is MOST indicative of inadequate breathing in an infant?
- A. Sunken fontanelles
- B. Heart rate of 130 beats/min
- C. Expiratory grunting
- D. Abdominal breathing
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Expiratory grunting is a significant sign of inadequate breathing and respiratory distress in infants. It indicates that the infant is struggling to exhale properly, which can be a sign of various respiratory issues, including lung problems or airway obstruction. Monitoring and recognizing this sign promptly can help in providing timely interventions to support the infant's breathing and prevent further complications.
What percentage of total body surface area has been burned in a 5-year-old child who experienced partial-thickness burns to his head, anterior chest, and both upper extremities?
- A. 45%
- B. 63%
- C. 72%
- D. 54%
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.
During the 5-minute Apgar assessment of a newborn, you note a heart rate of 130 beats/min, cyanosis in the hands and feet, and rapid respirations. The baby cries when you flick the soles of its feet and resists leg straightening. These findings correspond to an Apgar score of:
- A. 9
- B. 7
- C. 8
- D. 10
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The Apgar score is a rapid assessment tool to evaluate the newborn's transition to life outside the womb. The Apgar score is based on five components: heart rate (>100 bpm), respiratory effort (rapid breathing), muscle tone (resisting leg straightening), reflex irritability (crying when feet are flicked), and color (cyanosis to extremities). The described findings match a score of 9, indicating good overall condition and adaptation to extrauterine life.
You are dispatched to a residence for a 4-year-old female who is sick. Your assessment reveals that she has increased work of breathing and is making a high-pitched sound during inhalation. Her mother tells you that she has been running a high fever for the past 24 hours. Your MOST immediate concern should be:
- A. determining if the child has a history of croup.
- B. preparing to treat her for a febrile seizure.
- C. assessing the need for ventilation assistance.
- D. taking her temperature to see how high it is.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In a child with increased work of breathing, a high-pitched sound during inhalation, and a high fever, upper airway obstruction should be suspected. The child's condition may require immediate ventilation assistance to ensure adequate oxygenation and ventilation. Therefore, the most immediate concern in this scenario is to assess the need for ventilation assistance.
Why is a prolapsed umbilical cord dangerous?
- A. The cord may be wrapped around the baby's neck, causing strangulation.
- B. The cord might pull the placenta from the uterine wall during delivery.
- C. The baby's head may compress the cord, cutting off its supply of oxygen.
- D. The mother may die of hypoxia due to compromised placental blood flow.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A prolapsed umbilical cord is dangerous because the baby's head may compress the cord, cutting off its supply of oxygen. This compression can lead to oxygen deprivation, potentially causing significant harm to the baby. Immediate medical intervention is crucial in such cases to prevent adverse outcomes.