A woman is 14 weeks pregnant with her first baby.
She asks how long it will be before she feels the baby move.
The best answer is:.

Choice A rationale:
Bronchoscopy is not the essential test for diagnosing cystic fibrosis. Bronchoscopy is a procedure that allows the healthcare provider to visualize the airways and lungs but is not the primary test for cystic fibrosis diagnosis. Cystic fibrosis is primarily diagnosed through genetic testing and sweat chloride testing.
Choice B rationale:
Serum calcium levels are not specific to cystic fibrosis diagnosis. Serum calcium levels are typically used to assess calcium balance in the body and are not directly related to cystic fibrosis diagnosis.
Choice C rationale:
Urine creatinine levels are not specific to cystic fibrosis diagnosis. Urine creatinine levels are often used to assess kidney function and muscle breakdown but are not diagnostic for cystic fibrosis.
Choice D rationale:
Sweat chloride test is essential in establishing the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis is characterized by the abnormal transport of chloride across cell membranes, leading to salty sweat. The sweat chloride test measures the amount of chloride in the sweat and is a key diagnostic test for cystic fibrosis. Values above a certain threshold (typically 60 mmol/L) are suggestive of cystic fibrosis.

This question assesses the nurse's ability to differentiate between pathological apnea and normal physiological variations in preterm neonates. Understanding neonatal respiratory development is crucial for distinguishing between clinical distress and common, benign breathing patterns observed in the premature population.

Choice A rationale: Apnea in infants is clinically defined as a cessation of breathing lasting 20 seconds or longer, or shorter if associated with bradycardia or cyanosis. Shorter pauses are considered periodic breathing, which is distinct from true apneic episodes.

Choice B rationale: While preterm infants have immature cardiovascular regulation, brief respiratory pauses followed by rapid breathing do not directly indicate fluctuating blood pressure. These patterns are primary reflections of an underdeveloped brainstem control of the respiratory rhythm and ventilation.

Choice C rationale: Maintaining a neutral thermal environment is vital for preventing cold stress, which increases oxygen consumption. However, this periodic breathing pattern is a developmental neurological phenomenon rather than a direct metabolic or thermoregulatory compensation for thermal instability.

Choice D rationale: Periodic breathing, characterized by brief pauses followed by rapid respiration, is a common and typically benign pattern in premature infants. It is attributed to the immaturity of the respiratory center in the brain and generally resolves as the infant matures.