Nursing Care of the Newborn Quizlet Related

Review Nursing Care of the Newborn Quizlet related questions and content

Which finding should be most concerning immediately following delivery of a newborn?

  • A. Capillary refill time of 3 seconds
  • B. Heart rate of 180 bpm
  • C. Respiratory rate of 65 breaths per minute
  • D. Apgar score of 8 at 5 minutes
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Heart rate of 180 bpm. A high heart rate in a newborn is concerning as it could indicate distress or a medical condition. A heart rate of 180 bpm is significantly above the normal range for a newborn (120-160 bpm), requiring immediate attention to assess and address the underlying cause, such as infection or cardiac issues.

A: Capillary refill time of 3 seconds is within the normal range (less than 3 seconds is normal).
C: Respiratory rate of 65 breaths per minute is slightly elevated but not as critical as a high heart rate.
D: Apgar score of 8 at 5 minutes is a good score, indicating the baby is in overall good condition, but it does not address the immediate concern of a high heart rate.