A nurse is assisting with administering an IV infusion of 0.9% sodium chloride at 100 mL/hr. The IV tubing has a drop factor of 15 gtt/mL. The nurse should set the IV infusion to deliver how many gtt/min? (Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not us e a trailing zero.)

Newborn stool characteristics vary depending on feeding method and the infant’s age. In breastfed infants, stool consistency, color, and frequency reflect the digestion of human milk, which is highly digestible and well absorbed. By about 1 week of age, stools transition from early neonatal patterns to more mature breast milk stools. Recognizing normal stool patterns helps the nurse differentiate between expected findings and signs of gastrointestinal dysfunction or infection.

Rationale:
A. Sticky stools are typically associated with meconium, which is the first stool passed by a newborn within the first 24 to 48 hours of life. Meconium is thick, tar-like, and composed of amniotic fluid, mucus, and intestinal secretions. At 1 week of age, a breastfed infant should no longer be passing meconium, making this finding abnormal for this stage.

B. Watery stools may suggest diarrhea or gastrointestinal infection rather than normal breastfed infant stool. Breastfed stools can be soft, but they are not typically excessively watery or explosive. Persistent watery stools may indicate malabsorption, infection, or feeding intolerance and would require further assessment.

C. Frothy stools are more commonly associated with conditions such as lactose overload or imbalance between foremilk and hindmilk intake. This may occur if the infant is receiving mostly foremilk, which is higher in lactose and lower in fat. However, frothy stool is not the expected normal stool type for a healthy 1-week-old breastfed newborn.

D. Seedy stools are the expected finding in a breastfed newborn at 1 week of age. These stools are typically yellow to mustard-colored, soft, and contain small seed-like particles due to partially digested milk fat. This appearance reflects normal digestion and adequate intake of breast milk.

Prioritization in pediatric nursing care is based on identifying conditions that pose an immediate threat to circulation, breathing, or neurological function. Neurovascular compromise following orthopedic procedures or casting is a time-sensitive emergency that can lead to permanent tissue damage if not addressed promptly. Early recognition of impaired perfusion or nerve compression is essential to prevent complications such as compartment syndrome. The nurse must first assess any findings that indicate possible loss of limb viability.

Rationale:
A. An infant who had a pyloromyotomy 12 hours ago and spit up after the last feeding is expected to have some postoperative gastric irritation and mild vomiting. This requires monitoring, but it is not immediately life-threatening if the infant is otherwise stable. Postoperative feeding intolerance is common in early recovery from gastric surgery and does not take priority over neurovascular compromise.

B. A child who had a cast placed 4 hours ago and reports numbness in the affected extremity is showing signs of possible neurovascular compromise. Numbness may indicate nerve compression or decreased blood flow due to swelling within the cast. This requires immediate assessment for the “6 Ps” of compartment syndrome (pain, pallor, paresthesia, paralysis, pulselessness, and poikilothermia) to prevent permanent tissue damage.

C. An adolescent with influenza reporting a headache rated 6 out of 10 is experiencing moderate discomfort but not an immediate life-threatening condition. Influenza symptoms are typically self-limiting and managed with supportive care such as hydration and antipyretics. Pain control is important, but this does not take priority over potential loss of circulation or neurological function.

D. A toddler with periorbital cellulitis and an axillary temperature of 37.8°C (99.7°F) has a mild temperature elevation that is not critical. Although periorbital cellulitis requires antibiotic therapy and monitoring for orbital involvement, the current findings do not indicate an acute emergency. This child is stable compared to a situation involving possible neurovascular compromise.