Maternal Newborn ATI Practice Questions Related

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A neonate is being discharged home with a fiber-optic blanket for treatment of physiologic jaundice. What is important for the nurse to include in the discharge instructions?

  • A. Cover the infant's eyes during the treatment.
  • B. Reduce the daily number of formula feedings.
  • C. Encourage frequent feeding to increase intake.
  • D. Expect a constipated stool until jaundice clears.
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct instruction for the nurse to include in the discharge plan is to encourage frequent feeding to increase intake. Fiber-optic blankets for treating physiologic jaundice work by promoting the breakdown of bilirubin in the skin through phototherapy. Encouraging frequent feeding helps increase the infant's intake, leading to more frequent bowel movements which aids in the elimination of excess bilirubin from the body. This, in turn, helps in resolving physiologic jaundice more quickly. Covering the infant's eyes during treatment may be necessary to protect them from the bright light, but it is not directly related to the effectiveness of the treatment. Reducing the number of formula feedings could decrease the baby's intake, potentially leading to more concentrated levels of bilirubin. Expecting constipation until jaundice clears is not a typical consequence of using a fiber-optic blanket for jaundice treatment.