ATI Nursing Care of Children Related

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What is the appropriate site to administer an intramuscular (IM) vaccine to a newborn?

  • A. The dorsal gluteal muscle
  • B. The vastus lateralis muscle
  • C. The ventral gluteal muscle
  • D. The biceps muscle
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct site to administer an intramuscular (IM) vaccine to a newborn is the vastus lateralis muscle. For newborns, the vastus lateralis is preferred over the dorsogluteal site because the dorsogluteal site has been associated with low antibody seroconversion rates, indicating a reduced immune response. The vastus lateralis is also recommended for IM injections in newborns, while the deltoid muscle is preferred for older infants and children. The ventral gluteal muscle and the biceps muscle are not appropriate sites for IM injections. Therefore, choice B is the correct answer.