A nurse is teaching about car seat safety to the parents of a newborn who was delivered at 38 weeks of gestation. Which of the following statements by a parent indicates an understanding of the teaching?

Explanation

Choice A Reason:

"When was the last time you ate meat?" This question is not relevant for a client who adheres to a vegan diet, as they abstain from consuming meat or animal products.

Choice B Reason:

"How much protein do you eat in a day?" Assessing the client's protein intake is essential because protein is a critical component of a healthy diet, especially during pregnancy. Since the client adheres to a vegan diet, obtaining an understanding of their protein intake is particularly important, as plant-based protein sources may require more careful planning to ensure adequate intake. Adequate protein intake is vital for supporting maternal tissue growth, blood volume expansion, and fetal development.

Choice C Reason:

"Are you taking a Vitamin C supplement?" While vitamin C is important, especially for individuals following a vegan diet to aid in the absorption of non-heme iron from plant-based sources, it may not be the primary concern when assessing overall dietary intake. Additionally, vitamin C supplementation may not be necessary if the client consumes a varied diet rich in fruits and vegetables.

Choice D Reason:

"Have you considered eating shellfish?" This question is not appropriate for a client who adheres to a vegan diet, as shellfish are animal products and are not consumed in a vegan diet. Instead, the focus should be on assessing the client's intake of plant-based protein sources.

Explanation

Choice A Reason:

Reporting the guardian's refusal of the medication to social services is incorrect. Refusing a medication for a newborn, especially one that is standard practice like erythromycin ophthalmic ointment, does not automatically warrant reporting to social services. Reporting to social services should only occur in cases where there are concerns for the safety or well-being of the newborn.

Choice B Reason:

Documenting the guardian's refusal of the medication. Is correct. When a guardian refuses a prescribed medication for a newborn, the nurse's immediate responsibility is to document this refusal accurately in the medical record. Documentation ensures that the refusal is well-documented for future reference and legal purposes.

Choice C Reason:

Informing the guardian that the medication can be given after discharge is incorrect. While it's important to educate the guardian about the purpose and benefits of the medication, informing them that it can be given after discharge may not address the immediate need for prophylaxis against ophthalmia neonatorum, which is the infection erythromycin ophthalmic ointment is intended to prevent.

Choice D Reason:

Notifying the facility's ethics committee about the guardian's medication refusal is incorrect. In most cases, notifying the ethics committee would be an overreaction to a guardian's refusal of a standard prophylactic medication. Ethics committees are typically reserved for complex ethical dilemmas that require deliberation and guidance beyond standard practice.