ATI Nursing Care of Children Related

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What is the most critical physiological change required of newborns at birth?

  • A. Transition from fetal to neonatal breathing
  • B. Body temperature maintenance
  • C. Stabilization of fluid and electrolytes
  • D. Closure of fetal shunts in the heart
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Transition from fetal to neonatal breathing. The most critical physiological change required of newborns at birth is the initiation of breathing. This transition is crucial for the newborn to start exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide outside the womb, marking the beginning of their independent respiratory function. Choices B, C, and D are important aspects of newborn care but are not as immediately critical as the establishment of breathing for oxygenation and removal of carbon dioxide, which is essential for the newborn's survival and adaptation to extrauterine life.