The nurse is caring for a 5-year-old girl post-tonsillectomy. The girl looks out the window and tells the nurse that it is raining and says. The sky is crying because it is sad that my throat hurts." The nurse understands that the girl is demonstrating which mental process?

A. "Activity will increase the respiratory rate": While activity can indeed affect respiratory rate, counting for a full minute allows for a more accurate assessment of the newborn's baseline respiratory rate, regardless of activity level.

B. "The rate and rhythm of breath are irregular in newborns": This statement reflects an understanding of why a complete minute is necessary for counting the respiratory rate in newborns. Newborns often have irregular breathing patterns, so counting for a full minute helps ensure an accurate assessment of their respiratory rate.

C. "Newborns are abdominal breathers": While newborns primarily use their diaphragm to

breathe (abdominal breathing), this fact alone does not explain why the respiratory rate should be counted for a full minute.

D. "Newborns do not expand their lungs fully with each respiration": While newborns may not fully expand their lungs with each breath, this factor is not the primary reason for counting the respiratory rate for a full minute.

A. “This is a vasomotor response caused by cooling or warming": While vasomotor responses can cause changes in skin color due to temperature changes, acrocyanosis specifically refers to blue discoloration of the hands and feet due to reduced peripheral circulation, not necessarily due to temperature changes.

B. “This is normal her circulatory system will take a few days to adjust”: While it's true that newborns may have transient circulatory changes as their circulatory system adapts after birth, acrocyanosis specifically refers to a benign condition characterized by persistent blue discoloration of the extremities unrelated to circulatory adjustments.

C. "Let's watch her carefully to make sure she does not have a circulatory problem": While it's important to monitor infants for any signs of circulatory problems, acrocyanosis is typically a

benign and self-limiting condition that does not require intervention unless accompanied by other concerning symptoms.

D. "Your daughter has acrocyanosis; this is causing her blue hands and feet.”: This response provides an accurate explanation for the blue discoloration of the infant's hands and feet. Acrocyanosis is a common and benign condition in newborns characterized by blue discoloration of the extremities due to peripheral vasoconstriction, which gradually resolves over the first few days to weeks of life.