A nurse is educating the parents of a post-term newborn who has hyperbilirubinemia and requires phototherapy.
What should the nurse include in the teaching?
The newborn should be exposed to sunlight for at least 15 minutes a day.
The newborn should wear eye shields and a diaper during phototherapy.
The newborn should be fed formula instead of breast milk during phototherapy.
The newborn should have blood tests every 12 hours to monitor bilirubin levels.
The Correct Answer is B
This is because phototherapy exposes the newborn to intense light that can damage the eyes and skin, and also increases water loss through the skin.
Eye shields protect the eyes from the light and a diaper prevents overexposure of the genital area. The newborn should also be turned frequently to expose different parts of the body to light.
Choice A is wrong because exposing the newborn to sunlight is not an effective treatment for hyperbilirubinemia and can cause sunburn. Choice C is wrong because breast milk does not interfere with phototherapy and breastfeeding should be continued as normal. Choice D is wrong because blood tests are not needed every 12 hours, but only when indicated by the bilirubin level or risk factors.
Normal bilirubin levels vary by age, gestational age, and risk factors. The American Academy of Pediatrics provides hour-specific nomograms for initiating phototherapy based on these factors.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
This is because phototherapy exposes the newborn to intense light that can damage the eyes and skin, and also increases water loss through the skin.
Eye shields protect the eyes from the light and a diaper prevents overexposure of the genital area.The newborn should also be turned frequently to expose different parts of the body to light.
Choice A is wrong because exposing the newborn to sunlight is not an effective treatment for hyperbilirubinemia and can cause sunburn.Choice C is wrong because breast milk does not interfere with phototherapy and breastfeeding should be continued as normal.Choice D is wrong because blood tests are not needed every 12 hours, but only when indicated by the bilirubin level or risk factors.
Normal bilirubin levels vary by age, gestational age, and risk factors.The American Academy of Pediatrics provides hour-specific nomograms for initiating phototherapy based on these factors.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
The newborn experienced fetal distress.Meconium staining is often caused by fetal hypoxia or other physiologic stress that triggers the fetus to pass meconium into the amniotic fluid before delivery.If the fetus aspirates the meconium, it can cause lung injury and respiratory distress, termed meconium aspiration syndrome.
Choice A is wrong because a bowel obstruction would not cause meconium staining of the nails and umbilical cord.
Choice B is wrong because a congenital anomaly would not necessarily cause meconium passage or staining.
Choice D is wrong because an infection may cause fetal distress, but it is not the direct cause of meconium staining.Meconium staining may be a sign of infection in the newborn.
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