A nurse is caring for a newborn who is at 34 weeks of gestation, weighs 1,550 g, and has nasal flaring, intercostal retractions, expiratory grunting, and mild cyanosis. The nurse should place the newborn in an incubator for which of the following reasons?
The newborn's temperature control mechanism is immature.
Heat increases the flow of oxygen to the newborn's extremities.
The newborn has a small body surface for his weight.
Heat facilitates the drainage of mucus for a premature newborn.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale:
Placing the newborn in an incubator is essential because the newborn's temperature control mechanism is immature. Premature infants have an underdeveloped thermoregulatory system, making them susceptible to heat loss and cold stress. An incubator provides a controlled, warm environment to maintain the newborn's body temperature within the normal range (around 36.5°C to 37.5°C or 97.7°F to 99.5°F).
Choice B rationale:
Heat increasing the flow of oxygen to the newborn's extremities is not a valid reason for placing the newborn in an incubator. Oxygenation is primarily influenced by respiratory and circulatory mechanisms, not external heat.
Choice C rationale:
The newborn's small body surface area for his weight is not directly related to the need for an incubator. Premature infants have a higher surface area to weight ratio, making them more prone to heat loss, but this is not the primary reason for using an incubator.
Choice D rationale:
Heat facilitating the drainage of mucus is not a reason for placing the newborn in an incubator. Proper positioning and suctioning are used to manage mucus in premature infants, but incubators are primarily for temperature regulation.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["A"]
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
The Moro reflex is a normal finding in newborns, including those born post-term. It is a primitive reflex that should be present and indicates a healthy neurological system.
Choice B rationale:
Vernix, a protective white substance that coats the skin in utero, is typically absent or minimal in post-term newborns due to its decreased production as gestation progresses. Therefore, it would not be expected in a post-term infant.
Choice C rationale:
Lanugo, the fine hair covering a newborn's body, is usually present in greater amounts in preterm infants. By the time a newborn is post-term, lanugo is typically sparse or absent, making it an unlikely finding.
Choice D rationale:
This maneuver assesses the flexibility of the newborn's joints. Post-term infants tend to have reduced flexibility and increased muscle tone, making this maneuver more difficult or restricted in this population.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Providing a heat source for the newborn is not the purpose of surfactant. Surfactant is a substance produced in the lungs to reduce surface tension and prevent alveolar collapse during expiration. It helps with the exchange of gases, but it does not generate heat.
Choice B rationale:
This is the correct answer. Surfactant plays a crucial role in assisting the alveoli to remain open by reducing surface tension. This, in turn, allows for proper gas exchange, especially of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Choice C rationale:
Assisting the ductus arteriosus to remain open is not the purpose of surfactant. The ductus arteriosus is a fetal blood vessel that connects the pulmonary artery to the aorta, bypassing the lungs. After birth, it should close on its own, and surfactant does not influence this process.
Choice D rationale:
Providing energy to the newborn is not the purpose of surfactant. Energy for the newborn comes from nutrition, particularly breast milk or formula, and not from surfactant
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