A nurse is assisting in the care of a newborn born 1 hr ago who was delivered at 38 weeks of gestation.

A newborn who is 38 weeks of gestation is admitted to the newborn nursery following an emergency cesarean birth with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Apgar scores of 5 at 1 min and 7 at 5 min. The newborn received surfactant via an endotracheal tube and is currently receiving 3 Umin of oxygen via nasal cannula. Blood gases reveal respiratory acidosis.

Which action should the nurse prioritize in this situation?

Report the client's weight by the client's provider.

Select diagnostic studies followed by the primary health care.

Check brachial pulses for the client's respiratory status.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

Choice A rationale:

Reporting the client's weight to the provider is not a priority in this situation. While weight is important, the immediate concern is the newborn's respiratory distress and the acidosis indicated by the blood gases.

Choice B rationale:

Selecting diagnostic studies for the primary health care is not the nurse's role. The primary health care provider will determine which diagnostic studies are needed based on the newborn's clinical presentation and assessment findings.

Choice C rationale:

Checking brachial pulses for the client's respiratory status is the appropriate action. In a newborn with respiratory distress, assessing peripheral perfusion, including brachial pulses, is crucial to monitor the circulation and oxygenation of tissues.

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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Choice A rationale:

(Incorrect) The newborn with significant bruising from a face presentation is at an increased risk of elevated unconjugated bilirubin levels. Bruising can lead to the breakdown of red blood cells, increasing bilirubin production.

Choice B rationale:

(Incorrect) The premature newborn is at a higher risk of elevated unconjugated bilirubin levels. Premature infants often have an underdeveloped liver, which can lead to reduced bilirubin processing and clearance.

Choice C rationale:

(Correct) The baby born at 41 weeks' gestation is at the lowest risk for elevated unconjugated bilirubin levels. By this stage, the baby's liver is more mature, allowing for efficient processing and clearance of bilirubin.

Choice D rationale:

(Incorrect) The newborn with O+ blood type, born to a mother with O- blood type, is at an increased risk of elevated unconjugated bilirubin levels if the baby's blood type is Rh-positive and the mother's is Rh-negative. This situation can lead to Rh incompatibility and hemolytic disease of the newborn, causing higher bilirubin levels.

A. He is just cold. B. He may have been born with a heart problem. C. The hands are always blue in a newborn. D. The circulation in his hands is not fully developed.

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Choice A rationale:

"He is just cold”. is not the correct choice. While newborns can have cold hands and feet due to their immature thermoregulation, it would not explain persistent blue hands.

Choice B rationale:

"He may have been born with a heart problem”. is not the correct choice as it suggests a congenital heart defect. While cyanosis (bluish discoloration) can be associated with some heart problems, the hands alone being blue is less likely to be solely related to a heart issue.

Choice C rationale:

"The hands are always blue in a newborn”. is not the correct choice. While newborns may have bluish extremities (acrocyanosis) during the first few days after birth due to their developing circulatory system, persistent blue hands beyond this period would require further assessment.

Choice D rationale:

The correct choice is that "The circulation in his hands is not fully developed.”. Newborns have a developing circulatory system, and sometimes, their peripheral circulation takes some time to mature, leading to transient blue hands. However, if the blue color persists or worsens, it's essential to evaluate for any underlying issues.

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Which newborn is at the lowest risk for elevated unconjugated bilirubin levels?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A mother asks, "Why does my infant have blue hands?".

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A nurse is collecting data from a newborn who is 12 hours old. His respiration rate is 44/min, shallow, with periods of apnea lasting up to 5 seconds. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

The purpose of surfactant is to?

A nurse is caring for a newborn who is formula-fed. The newborn takes 0.5 oz of formula at 0800, 1 oz at 1100, 0.5 oz at 1300, 0.5 oz at 1600, and 0.5 oz at 1830. How many mL of formula should the nurse record as the client's intake for the shift?

A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a parent about using an iron-fortified formula to feed her newborn. Which of the following information should the nurse include in the teaching?

A nurse is caring for several newborn clients. For which of the following findings should the nurse notify the charge nurse?

A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a parent about using an iron-fortified formula to feed her newborn. Which of the following information should the nurse include in the teaching?

A nurse is reinforcing discharge teaching about circumcision care with the parent of a newborn who had a circumcision using the Plastibell device. Which of the following client statements indicates an understanding of the teaching? (Select all that apply.).