The nurse's initial action when caring for an otherwise stable, full term infant with a slightly decreased temperature is to:
Select one:

Place the infant skin to skin with the mother and re-check temperature in 30 minutes.

Check the infant's CBC and blood cultures, as this is a sign of probable sepsis.

Return the infant to the nursery for close observation under warming lights.

Notify the physician immediately and suggest orders for placement in an incubator.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

Choice A Reason: Place the infant skin to skin with the mother and re-check temperature in 30 minutes. This is because skin-to-skin contact is an eﬀective and safe method of increasing the infant's temperature and promoting thermoregulation. Skin-to-skin contact also has other benefits such as enhancing bonding, breastfeeding, and maternal-infant attachment.

Choice B Reason: Check the infant's CBC and blood cultures, as this is a sign of probable sepsis. This is an unnecessary action that may cause undue stress and discomfort to the infant and the mother. A slightly decreased temperature in a full-term infant is not a sign of probable sepsis, but rather a common finding that may be due to environmental factors, such as exposure to cold air or wet linens.

Choice C Reason: Return the infant to the nursery for close observation under warming lights. This is an undesirable action that may interfere with the early initiation of breastfeeding and bonding between the mother and the infant. Warming lights are not recommended for routine use in healthy newborns, as they may cause dehydration, hyperthermia, or eye damage.

Choice D Reason: Notify the physician immediately and suggest orders for placement in an incubator. This is an excessive action that may indicate a lack of knowledge or confidence on the part of the nurse. An incubator is not indicated for a stable, full term infant with a slightly decreased temperature, as it may expose the infant to unnecessary interventions, infections, or separation from the mother.

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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Choice A Reason: Contact the physician, as it indicates early DIC. This is an incorrect answer that confuses a low pulse rate with a high pulse rate. DIC stands for disseminated intravascular coagulation, which is a life-threatening condition where abnormal clotting and bleeding occur simultaneously in the body. DIC can occur as a complication of postpartum hemorrhage, infection, or placental abruption. DIC can cause tachycardia (high pulse rate), not bradycardia (low pulse rate).

Choice B Reason: Contact the physician, as it is a first sign of postpartum eclampsia. This is an incorrect answer that misinterprets a low pulse rate as a sign of hypertension. Postpartum eclampsia is a condition where seizures occur in a woman who has preeclampsia or eclampsia after delivery. Preeclampsia and eclampsia are characterized by high blood pressure and proteinuria in pregnancy. Postpartum eclampsia can cause hypertension (high blood pressure), not hypotension (low blood pressure).

Choice C Reason: Document the finding as it is a normal finding at this time. This is because a pulse rate of 60 beats per minute is within the normal range for an adult and may reﬂect a physiological adaptation to the postpartum period. During pregnancy, the maternal blood volume and cardiac output increase, which can elevate the pulse rate. After delivery, these parameters gradually return to pre-pregnancy levels, which can lower the pulse rate.

Choice D Reason: Obtain an order for a CBC, as it suggests postpartum anemia. This is an incorrect answer that assumes that a low pulse rate is caused by anemia. Anemia is a condition where the red blood cell count or hemoglobin level is lower than normal, which can impair oxygen delivery to the tissues. Anemia can occur in the postpartum period due to blood loss during delivery or poor nutritional intake during pregnancy. Anemia can cause tachycardia (high pulse rate), not bradycardia (low pulse rate).

A. Respiratory rate of 16. B. Complaints by the client of feeling ﬂushed and warm. C. Fetal heart rate of 120. D. Patellar reﬂexes are absent.

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Choice A Reason: Respiratory rate of 16. This is an incorrect answer that indicates a normal finding that does not suggest magnesium sulfate toxicity. Respiratory rate is a measure of the number of breaths per minute, which reﬂects the respiratory function and oxygenation status. Respiratory rate of 16 is within the normal range for adults, which is 12 to 20 breaths per minute. Respiratory rate of 16 does not indicate magnesium sulfate toxicity, which can cause respiratory rate below 12 breaths per minute.

Choice B Reason: Complaints by the client of feeling ﬂushed and warm. This is an incorrect answer that indicates a common side eﬀect that does not indicate magnesium sulfate toxicity. Feeling ﬂushed and warm are sensations that are caused by vasodilation (widening of blood vessels), which can occur as a result of magnesium sulfate administration. Feeling ﬂushed and warm are not signs of magnesium sulfate toxicity, but rather expected and mild reactions that usually subside within a few hours.

Choice C Reason: Fetal heart rate of 120. This is an incorrect answer that indicates a normal finding that does not suggest magnesium sulfate toxicity. Fetal heart rate is a measure of the number of beats per minute of the fetal heart, which reﬂects the fetal well-being and oxygenation status. Fetal heart rate of 120 is within the normal range for fetuses, which is 110 to 160 beats per minute. Fetal heart rate of 120 does not indicate magnesium sulfate toxicity, which can cause fetal heart rate below 110 beats per minute or above 160 beats per minute.

Choice D Reason: Patellar reﬂexes are absent. This is because absent patellar reﬂexes are a sign of magnesium sulfate toxicity, which is a condition where the level of magnesium in the blood is too high, which can cause adverse eﬀects on the neuromuscular and cardiovascular systems. Magnesium sulfate is a medication that is used to prevent or treat preterm labor, which is labor that occurs before 37 weeks of gestation. Magnesium sulfate works by relaxing the uterine muscles and inhibiting uterine contractions. However, magnesium sulfate can also aﬀect other muscles and nerves in the body, and cause symptoms such as muscle weakness, respiratory depression, hypotension, or cardiac arrest.

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The nurse's initial action when caring for an otherwise stable, full term infant with a slightly decreased temperature is to: Select one:

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A woman who is 12 hours postpartum had a pulse rate around 80 beats per minute during pregnancy. Now, the nurse finds a pulse of 60 beats per minute. Which of these actions should the nurse take? Select one:

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A woman is being treated for preterm labor with magnesium sulfate. Which finding by the nurse indicates magnesium sulfate toxicity? Select one:

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

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The nurse's initial action when caring for an otherwise stable, full term infant with a slightly decreased temperature is to:
Select one: