What should the nurse stress in a teaching plan for the mother of an 11-year-old diagnosed with ulcerative colitis?

A brilliant, uniform red reflex in both eyes is a sign of a healthy retina and optic nerve. The red reflex is the reflection of light from the retina that varies in color depending on the patient’s skin tone. It can be seen by holding the ophthalmoscope directly in front of your eye and asking the patient to focus on a point in the distance.

Choice B is wrong because an abnormal finding would be an absent or asymmetric red reflex, which could indicate cataracts, retinal detachment, or other eye diseases.

Choice C is wrong because a possible visual defect would not affect the red reflex, but rather the visual acuity or field of vision of the patient.

A vision screening would involve testing the patient’s ability to read letters or numbers at different distances.

Choice D is wrong because small hemorrhages would not cause a brilliant, uniform red reflex, but rather dark spots or blotches on the retina that can be seen with the ophthalmoscope.

Hemorrhages can be caused by diabetes, hypertension, or trauma.

choice D. Monitor blood glucose levels frequently and observe closely for signs of hypoglycemia. This is because a macrosomic infant (a newborn who’s much larger than average) is at risk of developing low blood sugar levels after birth, especially if the mother has diabetes. Hypoglycemia can cause neurological damage in the newborn, so it is important to detect and treat it promptly.

Choice A is wrong because leaving the infant in the room with the mother without monitoring the blood glucose levels may miss signs of hypoglycemia and delay treatment.

Choice B is wrong because taking the infant immediately to the nursery may separate the infant from the mother and interfere with breastfeeding, which can help prevent hypoglycemia.

Choice C is wrong because performing a gestational age assessment to determine whether the infant is large for gestational age is not urgent and does not address the risk of hypoglycemia.

Normal ranges for blood glucose levels in term infants are 2.6 mmol/L or higher at any time. A blood glucose level of 2.5 mmol/L or less is considered hypoglycemic.