“A nurse is caring for a patient who reports spontaneous rupture of membranes.

The nurse observes fetal bradycardia on the FHR tracing and notices that the umbilical cord is protruding.

After calling for assistance and notifying the provider, which of the following actions should the nurse take next?”

Choice A rationale
Erythromycin ophthalmic ointment is administered to newborns to prevent neonatal conjunctivitis, also known as ophthalmia neonatorum, specifically for Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection prevention. If the guardian refuses the administration of erythromycin, the healthcare provider should respect the guardian’s decision and document the refusal. It’s important to note that the refusal should be informed, meaning the guardian should understand the potential risks associated with not administering the medication.
Choice B rationale
Informing the guardian that the medication can be given after discharge may not be the best course of action. The purpose of the ointment is to prevent infection immediately after birth when the risk is highest. Delaying the administration could potentially increase the risk of the newborn developing an infection.
Choice C rationale
Reporting the guardian’s refusal of the medication to social services is not the first step unless there are other concerns about the safety or well-being of the child. The healthcare provider should respect the guardian’s autonomy and their right to make informed decisions about the newborn’s care.
Choice D rationale
Notifying the facility’s ethics committee about the guardian’s medication refusal is not typically necessary unless the refusal puts the newborn at significant risk and other attempts to resolve the situation have failed. In this case, the refusal of erythromycin ophthalmic ointment, while not ideal, is not likely to warrant an ethics consultation.

Choice A rationale
Providing the newborn with 15 mL glucose water after each feeding is not a recommended action for a newborn undergoing phototherapy for jaundice. While maintaining adequate hydration is important, feedings should consist of breast milk or formula, unless otherwise directed by a healthcare provider.
Choice B rationale
Before starting phototherapy, it’s important to protect the newborn’s eyes from the light by applying eye patches. This can help prevent potential damage to the retinas.
Choice C rationale
Applying hydrating lotion to the newborn’s skin prior to treatment is not a recommended action for a newborn undergoing phototherapy for jaundice. The light needs to be able to penetrate the skin in order to break down the bilirubin, and applying lotion could potentially interfere with this process.
Choice D rationale
Turning the newborn every hour is not a recommended action for a newborn undergoing phototherapy for jaundice. While it’s important to change the newborn’s position regularly to ensure that all areas of the skin are exposed to the light, this does not need to be done on an hourly basis.