A nurse is caring for a newborn who was born at 38 weeks of gestation, weighs 3,200 g, and is in the 60th percentile for weight.

How should the nurse classify this neonate based on the weight and gestational age?

Choice A rationale
Monitoring vaginal bleeding is the priority nursing action for a client who is at 33 weeks of gestation and has a diagnosis of placenta previa. Placenta previa can cause painless, bright red vaginal bleeding during the third trimester. This bleeding can lead to serious complications for both the mother and the fetus, making it crucial to monitor for this symptom.
Choice B rationale
Administering glucocorticoids is not the priority nursing action in this situation. While glucocorticoids can be used to accelerate fetal lung maturity in cases of preterm labor, they are not the primary treatment for placenta previa.
Choice C rationale
Inserting an IV catheter may be necessary for administering medications or fluids, but it is not the priority action. The nurse’s primary concern should be monitoring for signs of bleeding.
Choice D rationale
Applying an external fetal monitor can help assess the well-being of the fetus, but it is not the priority action. The nurse’s main focus should be on monitoring for vaginal bleeding.

Choice A rationale
A client who has a cesarean incision that is well-approximated with no drainage is not at the greatest risk for developing a puerperal infection. While any surgical incision can potentially become infected, if the incision is healing well with no signs of infection, the risk is relatively low.
Choice B rationale
A client who does not wash her hands between perineal care and breastfeeding is increasing her risk of infection, but this is not the greatest risk factor for developing a puerperal infection. Good hand hygiene is important to prevent the spread of germs, but other factors pose a greater risk for puerperal infection.
Choice C rationale
A client who has an episiotomy that is erythematous and has extended into a third-degree laceration is at the greatest risk for developing a puerperal infection. An episiotomy is a surgical cut made at the opening of the vagina during childbirth to aid a difficult delivery and prevent rupture of tissues. If the episiotomy extends and becomes a third-degree laceration, it involves the vaginal tissue, perineal skin, and the muscle of the perineum, and can extend into the anal sphincter, the muscle that surrounds the anus. This type of wound provides a medium for bacterial growth, increasing the risk of infection.
Choice D rationale
A client who is not breastfeeding and is using measures to suppress lactation is not at the greatest risk for developing a puerperal infection. While breastfeeding can help reduce the risk of certain types of infections, not breastfeeding does not significantly increase the risk of puerperal infection.