A nurse is planning care for a newborn who is scheduled to start phototherapy using a lamp. Which of the following actions should the nurse include in the plan?
Give the newborn 1 oz of glucose water every 4 hours.
Apply a thin layer of lotion to the newborn's skin every 8 hours.
Ensure the newborn's eyes are closed beneath the shield.
Dress the newborn in a thin layer of clothing during therapy.
The Correct Answer is C
Phototherapy is a treatment method used to reduce high levels of bilirubin in the blood of a newborn with jaundice. During phototherapy, the newborn is exposed to special lights that help break down the bilirubin and allow it to be eliminated from the body. It is important to protect the newborn's eyes during phototherapy.
Option a) Giving the newborn 1 oz of glucose water every 4 hours is not necessary for phototherapy. The primary goal of phototherapy is to treat jaundice, and providing glucose water is not directly related to this treatment.
Option b)Applying a thin layer of lotion to the newborn's skin every 8 hours is not necessary during phototherapy. In fact, it is generally recommended to avoid applying lotions or oils to the skin during phototherapy as they can interfere with the effectiveness of the treatment.
Option c) Ensuring the newborn's eyes are closed beneath the shield is essential during phototherapy. The eyes are particularly sensitive to the light used in phototherapy, and exposure to the light can potentially damage the eyes. Therefore, the newborn's eyes should be protected with a shield or eye patches to prevent direct exposure to the light.
Option d) Dressing the newborn in a thin layer of clothing during therapy is appropriate. The newborn should be dressed in a way that allows as much of their skin as possible to be exposed to the phototherapy lights. This usually involves removing unnecessary clothing and covering the genital area with a diaper, while the rest of the body is exposed to the light.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A client who is in labor and reports an urge to have a bowel movement during contractions may be experiencing the transition phase of labor, which is the last and most intense part of the first stage of labor¹². The transition phase occurs when the cervix dilates from 8 to 10 cm and the baby descends into the birth canal¹². The pressure of the baby's head on the rectum can cause a sensation of needing to defecate¹². The transition phase can last from 15 minutes to an hour or more, and it can be accompanied by other signs, such as strong, regular, and painful contractions lasting 60 to 90 seconds; increased bloody show; nausea and vomiting; shaking and shivering; and emotional changes such as irritability, anxiety, or excitement¹²³.
The nurse should reassess the client who reports an urge to have a bowel movement during contractions because this may indicate that the client is close to delivering the baby and needs to be prepared for the second stage of labor, which involves pushing and giving birth¹². The nurse should check the client's cervical dilation, fetal heart rate, and maternal vital signs, and notify the provider if the client is fully dilated or shows signs of fetal or maternal distress¹². The nurse should also support the client's coping strategies, such as breathing techniques, relaxation methods, or pain relief options, and encourage the client not to push until instructed by the provider¹².
b) A sense of excitement and warm, flushed skin are not signs that require reassessment by the nurse. These are normal emotional and physiological responses to labor that reflect increased adrenaline levels and blood flow¹⁴. They do not indicate any complications or imminent delivery.
c) Progressive sacral discomfort during contractions is not a sign that requires reassessment by the nurse. This is a common symptom of labor that results from the pressure of the baby's head on the sacrum and nerves in the lower back¹⁴. It does not indicate any problems or imminent delivery.
d) Intense contractions lasting 45 to 60 seconds are not signs that require reassessment by the nurse. These are typical characteristics of active labor contractions, which occur when the cervix dilates from 4 to 8 cm¹⁴. They do not indicate any complications or imminent delivery.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) is a condition that occurs when there is an incompatibility between the blood types of the mother and the baby. It causes the mother's immune system to produce antibodies that attack and destroy the baby's red blood cells, leading to anemia, jaundice, organ enlargement, and other complications¹.
One of the most common causes of HDN is Rh incompatibility. This happens when the mother is Rh negative and the baby is Rh positive. The Rh factor is a protein that can be present or absent on the surface of red blood cells. People who have the protein are Rh positive and people who do not have it are Rh negative
Rh incompatibility can cause HDN when the baby's Rh positive blood cells cross the placenta and enter the mother's bloodstream. This can happen during delivery, miscarriage, abortion, or invasive prenatal testing. The mother's immune system recognizes the baby's blood cells as foreign and produces antibodies against them. These antibodies can cross back to the baby's bloodstream and attack the baby's red blood cells, causing hemolysis (breakdown) and anemia².
HDN due to Rh incompatibility usually does not affect the first pregnancy, because the mother has not been exposed to Rh positive blood before and has not developed antibodies yet. However, it can affect subsequent pregnancies with Rh positive babies, because the mother has become sensitized and has antibodies ready to attack².
The other options are not causes of HDN:
a) The mother and the father are both Rh negative. This is not a cause of HDN because both parents have the same Rh factor and there is no incompatibility between them. The baby will also be Rh negative and will not trigger an immune response from the mother².
b) The mother and the father are both Rh positive. This is not a cause of HDN because both parents have the same Rh factor and there is no incompatibility between them. The baby will also be Rh positive and will not trigger an immune response from the mother².
c) The mother is Rh positive and the father is Rh negative. This is not a cause of HDN because the mother has a dominant Rh factor and will not produce antibodies against it. The baby will either be Rh positive or Rh negative, depending on whether they inherit the father's gene or not. In either case, the baby's blood type will not trigger an immune response from the mother².
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