Upon assessment, the RN notices that the newborn remains red at rest. Which laboratory value is most important for the nurse to evaluate?
- A. Glucose
- B. Bilirubin
- C. Sodium
- D. Hematocrit
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Hematocrit. A red newborn at rest may indicate polycythemia, which increases the risk of hyperviscosity and complications. Hematocrit measures the percentage of red blood cells in the blood, so evaluating it can help determine if the newborn has polycythemia. Glucose (A) is important but not directly related to the newborn's redness. Bilirubin (B) is crucial for evaluating jaundice, not redness. Sodium (C) levels are not typically associated with a red newborn at rest.
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A postpartum nurse is giving guidance to a mother whose breast-fed newborn is experiencing hyperbilirubinemia. What are the best instructions for the nurse to give the mother in this case?
- A. It is best for the infant if she stops breast-feeding and switches to bottle-feeding permanently.
- B. The mother should switch to bottle-feeding until the baby’s bilirubin returns to normal range.
- C. The mother should alternate breast-feeding and bottle-feeding to ensure adequate fluid intake, until the baby’s bilirubin returns to normal range.
- D. The mother should continue to breast-feed the infant every 2 to 3 hours or more frequently as tolerated (every 2 hours if under phototherapy).
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Continued frequent breastfeeding helps reduce bilirubin levels effectively.
A nurse is assessing an infant who has a large bruise around his neck and face from a nuchal cord. What other assessment finding correlates with this condition?
- A. Elevated serum bilirubin
- B. Irritability with gentle handing
- C. Large-for-gestational-age measurements
- D. Obvious vertebral defects
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Infants born with a nuchal cord often demonstrate significant bruising to the face and neck. This may be upsetting to the parents. Irritability with handling might be related to damage from birth trauma. Large-for-gestational-age infants often have bruising related to extraction techniques during a difficult birth. Obvious vertebral defects are associated with neural tube anomalies and can be seen in children with hairy pigmented skin lesions and hairy nevi located in the posterior midline area near the spinal column.
The most effective time to initiate breast-feeding is in which stage of reactivity for the neonate?
- A. period of decreased reactivity
- B. first period of reactivity
- C. second period of reactivity
- D. after the end of the second period of reactivity
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The first period of reactivity is optimal for initiating breastfeeding due to the newborn's alertness.
The nurse is assigned to the room of a 15-year-old person who gave birth to a newborn 72 hours ago. Why is this newborn a perfect candidate for the Brazelton assessment?
- A. This parent-newborn couplet is at risk for delayed attachment.
- B. The newborn is likely going home soon.
- C. The EHR is prompting her to do so.
- D. The infant is likely withdrawing from a substance.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Delayed attachment may occur in younger parents, making the Brazelton assessment valuable for evaluating bonding.
Which infant is not at risk for heat loss?
- A. Infant born at 38 weeks gestational age on a baby scale
- B. Preterm infant lying extended in the warmer
- C. Term infant who is lying in an open crib next to the door
- D. Infant born at 41 weeks swaddled in the open crib of the nursery
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because swaddling helps maintain the infant's body temperature by preventing heat loss. Swaddling creates a cocoon-like environment, reducing exposure to external factors. Choice A is incorrect because a baby scale does not provide warmth. Choice B is incorrect as the preterm infant is in an extended position, which increases heat loss. Choice C is incorrect as the term infant lying next to the door may experience drafts and heat loss.