The parents of a 28-week gestation neonate ask the nurse, “Why does he have to be fed through a tube in his mouth? What is the nurse’s best response?”
The baby’s sucking, swallowing, and breathing are not coordinated yet.
The baby’s stomach cannot digest formula at this time.
It allows us to accurately determine the baby’s intake since he is so small.
It helps to prevent thrush, an infection that could affect the baby’s mouth.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale
Preterm infants lack coordination for sucking, swallowing, and breathing until approximately 32-34 weeks' gestation. Gavage feeding prevents aspiration by bypassing the immature oral motor mechanisms required for safe oral feeding.
Choice B rationale
Preterm infants can digest milk due to functional gastrointestinal enzymes. Digestive immaturity relates more to delayed gastric emptying rather than the inability to process nutrients, which is managed with small frequent feeds.
Choice C rationale
Monitoring intake is crucial for growth and hydration, but gavage feeding primarily addresses feeding immaturity, not intake measurement. Accurate intake can be monitored through oral feeds with supplemental measurements.
Choice D rationale
Gavage feeding does not directly prevent thrush. Thrush prevention involves oral hygiene and immune support rather than feeding methods, as thrush may still occur regardless of tube feeding or oral intake.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["A","B","C"]
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Providing family support is crucial as preterm birth can cause significant emotional distress. Education and involvement aid understanding of interventions and foster a supportive environment for both the neonate and family.
Choice B rationale
Strict handwashing and sterile technique prevent infection in preterm neonates, whose immature immune systems make them highly susceptible to sepsis, a leading cause of morbidity in NICUs.
Choice C rationale
Creating a womb-like state through dim lighting, limited noise, and careful positioning supports neurodevelopment and mimics the intrauterine environment, promoting growth and stability.
Choice D rationale
Frequent diaper changes may disturb thermoregulation and disrupt the neonate's limited energy reserves, as preterm infants require an environment that minimizes stress and conserves energy.
Correct Answer is ["B","C","D","E"]
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Deep sleep is not a characteristic of neonatal abstinence syndrome; rather, infants tend to exhibit irritability and disturbed sleep patterns due to central nervous system hyperirritability caused by opioid withdrawal.
Choice B rationale
A high-pitched cry occurs due to central nervous system overstimulation and hyperirritability, which are hallmark features of neonatal abstinence syndrome and a direct result of opioid withdrawal in neonates.
Choice C rationale
Poor feeding is common in neonatal abstinence syndrome due to uncoordinated suck reflexes and gastrointestinal disturbances, leading to difficulty maintaining adequate nutrition and hydration in affected neonates.
Choice D rationale
Neonates with neonatal abstinence syndrome often exhibit tremors or shaking as a result of central nervous system hyperirritability, which is a hallmark symptom of opioid withdrawal in newborns.
Choice E rationale
Excessive sweating is a manifestation of autonomic nervous system dysregulation caused by opioid withdrawal in neonates, commonly observed in infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome.
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