A new mother on the postpartum unit runs out of the room screaming that her newborn infant's crib is empty and the baby is missing.

Which action should the nurse take first?

The correct answer is D. Activate the lockdown procedure.

Choice A rationale:

Asking the mother about expected visitors is important for later investigation, but it does not address the immediate concern of a potentially missing infant and delays necessary security measures.

Choice B rationale:

Matching ID bands is an essential step in verifying the identity of infants and mothers, but it should follow initial actions to secure the area and prevent possible abduction.

Choice C rationale:

Determining if the newborn is in the nursery is a logical step but not the first priority. The immediate action should be to secure the unit to prevent any potential abductor from leaving.

Choice D rationale:

Activating the lockdown procedure is the first priority to ensure the safety of the infant and prevent any unauthorized individuals from leaving the facility. This step is crucial to quickly address the situation and prevent potential abduction.

Choice A rationale:

Serum sodium level. Rationale: While electrolyte imbalances can be significant, in the context of purulent drainage at a postoperative site, monitoring serum sodium levels is not the top priority. Other laboratory values are more relevant in this situation.

Choice B rationale:

Hematocrit. Rationale: Hematocrit measures the proportion of red blood cells in the blood and is not directly related to wound drainage or infection. It is not the most relevant parameter to assess in this situation.

Choice C rationale:

Neutrophil count. Rationale: Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell that plays a key role in the body's immune response, particularly against bacterial infections. Elevated neutrophil counts can indicate an ongoing infection, so monitoring this value is important when assessing purulent wound drainage.

Choice D rationale:

Platelet count. Rationale: Platelet count measures the number of blood clotting cells in the blood and is not directly related to wound drainage or infection. It is not the most relevant parameter to assess in this situation.