The nurse administers vitamin K intramuscularly as prophylaxis to the newborn based on which of the following rationales?
Select one:

Choice A Reason: 3-2-1-0-2. This is an incorrect answer that underestimates the number of pregnancies and overestimates the number of preterm births. The client has had four pregnancies, not three. She has had one preterm birth, not two.

Choice B Reason: 4-1-1-1-3. This is an incorrect answer that overestimates the number of living children. The client has two living children, not three.

Choice C Reason 4-1-1-1-2. This is because the GTPAL method is a way of summarizing a woman's obstetric history using five numbers: G (gravida), T (term births), P (preterm births), A (abortions), and L (living children). Gravida is the number of pregnancies, regardless of outcome. Term births are deliveries after 37 weeks' gestation. Preterm births are deliveries between 20 and 37 weeks' gestation. Abortions are pregnancies that end before 20 weeks' gestation, either spontaneously or electively. Living children are the number of children who are alive at the time of assessment.

Choice D Reason: 4-1-2-0-3. This is an incorrect answer that overestimates the number of preterm births and living children, and underestimates the number of abortions. The client has had one preterm birth, not two. She has had one abortion, not zero. She has two living children, not three.

Choice A Reason: Apical pulse of 148 beats per minute. This is not a finding that would support a diagnosis of RDS, but rather a normal finding for a newborn. A normal apical pulse for a newborn ranges from 120 to 160 beats per minute. A high pulse rate may indicate fever, infection, anemia, or dehydration. A low pulse rate may indicate hypothermia, hypoxia, or heart block.

Choice B Reason: Respiratory rate of 40 during sleep. This is not a finding that would support a diagnosis of RDS, but rather a normal finding for a newborn. A normal respiratory rate for a newborn ranges from 40 to 60 breaths per minute. A high respiratory rate may indicate respiratory distress, infection, or metabolic acidosis. A low respiratory rate may indicate respiratory depression, hypothermia, or narcotic exposure.

Choice C Reason: Skin color jaundiced. This is not a finding that would support a diagnosis of RDS, but rather a different condition called jaundice. Jaundice is a yellowish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes caused by elevated levels of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a breakdown product of hemoglobin that is normally excreted by the liver and kidneys. Jaundice can occur in newborns due to immature liver function, increased red blood cell breakdown, or blood group incompatibility. Jaundice does not affect lung function or oxygenation.

Choice D Reason: Chest retractions. This is because chest retractions are a sign of respiratory distress that indicate increased work of breathing and reduced lung compliance. Chest retractions occur when the chest wall sinks in between the ribs or below the sternum during inhalation, creating a negative pressure that helps draw air into the lungs. RDS is a serious condition where the newborn's lungs are immature and lack sufficient surfactant, which is a substance that reduces surface tension and prevents alveolar collapse. RDS can cause respiratory distress, hypoxia, acidosis, and organ failure. It is more common in preterm infants, especially those born before 37 weeks' gestation.