A nurse is assessing a newborn following a vaginal delivery. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider?

a. Improves muscle strength.

Explanation:

Neostigmine is a medication used in the treatment of myasthenia gravis (MG). It belongs to a class of drugs called cholinesterase inhibitors. Neostigmine works by inhibiting the breakdown of acetylcholine, a neurotransmiter involved in muscle contraction. In MG, there is a decrease in the amount of acetylcholine available at the neuromuscular junction, leading to muscle weakness and fatigue.

By inhibiting the breakdown of acetylcholine, neostigmine helps to increase the concentration of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction. This, in turn, improves muscle strength and can alleviate the symptoms of weakness and fatigue associated with MG.

Option b, destroying the antibodies that cause MG, is not accurate. Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder characterized by the presence of antibodies that interfere with neuromuscular transmission.

Neostigmine does not directly target or eliminate these antibodies.

Option c, enhancing immune system function, is not accurate either. Neostigmine primarily acts on the neuromuscular junction to improve muscle strength and does not have a direct effect on immune system function.

Option d, preventing excessive coughing, is not the primary action of neostigmine. While increased muscle strength may indirectly improve respiratory function and reduce coughing in individuals with myasthenia gravis, it is not the primary indication or action of neostigmine.

Therefore, the most accurate information to include in teaching about neostigmine for a client with myasthenia gravis is that it improves muscle strength.

pH 7.31

Rationale:

A - This is incorrect because weight gain is not expected in clients who have COPD, as they often have difficulty eating and digesting food due to dyspnea and fatigue.

B - This is incorrect because a decrease in anteroposterior diameter of the chest is not typical of COPD, as the condition causes hyperinflation and air trapping in the lungs, leading to an increase in chest size and a barrel-shaped appearance.

C - This is incorrect because HCO3 24 mEq/L is within the normal range for blood bicarbonate levels, which are 22 to 26 mEq/L. Clients who have COPD often have chronic respiratory acidosis, which stimulates the kidneys to retain bicarbonate and increase its levels in the blood to compensate for the low pH.

D - This is correct because pH 7.31 indicates acidosis, which is common in clients who have COPD due to impaired gas exchange and accumulation of carbon dioxide in the blood.