The nurse is preparing to administer the vitamin K injection to a newborn. Which action would be correct for this client?

This action helps to prevent cold stress. This is because cold stress is a condition where the newborn's core temperature drops below 36.5°C and they use energy and oxygen to generate warmth. This can lead to hypoglycemia, metabolic acidosis, hypoxia, and an increased risk of infection.

Placing the newborn under a radiant warmer provides thermal stability and prevents heat loss by radiation.

Choice B is wrong because thermogenesis is the process of heat production, not a complication.

Choice C is wrong because shivering is a mechanism of heat production in adults, not in newborns.

Choice D is wrong because brown fat production is a normal feature of newborns that helps them generate heat by lipolysis.

Here is an image of a newborn under a radiant warmer.

Injecting the medication into the vastus lateralis. This is because the vastus lateralis is a large muscle in the thigh that is suitable for intramuscular injections in newborns³. The vitamin K injection helps prevent vitamin K deficiency bleeding, which is a rare but serious condition that can cause bleeding in the brain or other organs¹. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all newborns receive a single intramuscular dose of 0.5 to 1 mg of vitamin K within one hour of birth².

Choice A is wrong because a 21 gauge needle is too large for a newborn's muscle. A 25 or 27 gauge needle is more appropriate.

Choice B is wrong because injecting at a 45-degree angle may not reach the muscle tissue. A 90-degree angle is more appropriate.

Choice C is wrong because injecting 1cc of medication is too much for a newborn's muscle. The recommended dose of vitamin K is 0.5 to 1 mg, which is equivalent to 0.05 to 0.1 mL.