A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a newborn that is 4 hr old. Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as the priority?

Choice A rationale:

The Moro reflex, also known as the startle reflex, is a normal reflex observed in newborns. To elicit this reflex, the nurse should perform a sharp hand clap or make a loud noise near the infant. This reflex is characterized by the baby's arms and legs extending outward, followed by a quick flexion, resembling a startle response. It is an important reflex to assess the newborn's neurological and motor development.

Choice B rationale:

Turning the newborn's head quickly to one side does not elicit the Moro reflex. This action may stimulate other reflexes, such as the tonic neck reflex, but it is not the appropriate method to assess the Moro reflex.

Choice C rationale:

Placing a finger at the base of the newborn's toes does not elicit the Moro reflex. This action is more related to testing the Babinski reflex, which involves the fanning and curling of the toes when the sole of the foot is stimulated.

Choice D rationale:

Holding the newborn vertically and allowing one foot to touch the crib surface does not elicit the Moro reflex. This action might elicit the stepping reflex, where the baby shows stepping movements as if walking when held in an upright position with their feet touching a surface.

The nurse should use the lower ribcage border to measure chest circumference.

Choice A rationale:

The sternal notch is not an appropriate landmark for measuring chest circumference. It is a notch at the top of the sternum and not indicative of chest circumference.

Choice B rationale:

When measuring the chest circumference of a newborn, the correct anatomical landmark to use is the nipple line. This method ensures that the measurement is taken at a consistent and reproducible location across different individuals, providing an accurate assessment of the chest size relative to growth and development standards. It's important to position the measuring tape at the level of the nipples, encircling the chest at its largest point, which typically aligns with the nipple line.

Choice C rationale:

The lower ribcage border is also not suitable as it may vary significantly with respiratory movements and is not a stable landmark for consistent measurements.

Choice D rationale:

The axillae (armpits) are not used as a landmark for measuring chest circumference. It is not a standardized anatomical point for this purpose.