A nurse is planning to obtain blood from a newborn via a heel stick. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Puncture the heel to a depth of 4 mm to obtain the specimen.
Withhold feeding prior to collecting the specimen.
Apply a heat pack 5 to 10 min prior to the procedure.
Elevate the newborn's foot for 15 min following the procedure.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A Rationale: Puncturing the heel to a depth of 4 mm may be too deep and could cause injury to the newborn's foot. The recommended depth is usually less than 2 mm to avoid damaging underlying bone or tissues.
Choice B Rationale: Withholding feeding prior to collecting the specimen is not necessary and could cause unnecessary distress to the newborn. Feeding can help in soothing the infant and may even improve blood flow for the procedure.
Choice C Rationale: Applying a heat pack 5 to 10 minutes prior to the procedure is recommended as it helps to increase blood flow to the area, making the collection easier and potentially less painful for the newborn.
Choice D Rationale: Elevating the newborn's foot for 15 minutes following the procedure is not a standard recommendation. Post-procedure care typically involves applying gentle pressure to stop bleeding and then covering the puncture site with a bandage.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Name and medical record number: This information is unique to each individual and is used to accurately identify patients in healthcare settings, including newborns.
B. Birth date and mother's name: While important for identification, this information alone may not be sufficient to accurately identify a newborn, especially in situations where there may be multiple newborns with similar birth dates or mothers with the same name.
C. Age and diagnosis: Age and diagnosis are important clinical information but are not typically used as primary identifiers for medication administration.
D. Footprints and identification number: While footprints and identification numbers may be used as supplemental identifiers, they are not as reliable or commonly used as name and medical record number for medication administration.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Incorrect. Nail growth typically decreases with age rather than increases, and it is not due to calcium deposits.
B. Incorrect. Sweating tends to decrease with age rather than increase due to changes in sweat gland activity.
C. Incorrect. Cardiac output generally decreases with age due to changes in the heart's structure and function, rather than increasing due to weakened heart valves.
D. Correct. Increased joint stiffness is an expected age-related change due to the loss of elasticity in joint cartilage, leading to conditions such as osteoarthritis, which commonly affects older adults.
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