A nurse is caring for a preterm newborn who is in an incubator to maintain a neutral thermal environment.
The father of the newborn asks the nurse why this is necessary. Which of the following responses should the nurse make?
Preterm newborns lack the ability to regulate their own temperatures.
The heat in the incubator rapidly dries the sweat of preterm newborns.
Preterm newborns have a smaller body surface area than normal newborns.
The added brown fat layer in a preterm newborn reduces his ability to generate heat.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale
Preterm newborns have underdeveloped mechanisms for thermoregulation, making it difficult for them to maintain stable body temperatures without external assistance.
Choice B rationale
Preterm newborns do not sweat significantly because their sweat glands are not fully developed; thus, this rationale is incorrect.
Choice C rationale
Preterm newborns actually have a larger body surface area relative to their weight, contributing to their difficulty in maintaining body temperature.
Choice D rationale
Preterm newborns have insufficient brown fat, not an excess, which impairs their ability to generate heat effectively.
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Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Proximodistal development refers to growth from the center of the body outward to the extremities. An infant grabbing with their whole hand (palmar grasp) before developing a
pincer grasp demonstrates this pattern, as they gain control of arm movements before fine motor skills in the fingers.
Choice B rationale
Cephalocaudal development refers to growth from head to toe, such as gaining control over head and neck muscles before the limbs. This does not directly explain the grasping
behavior described.
Choice C rationale
Distoproximal is not a recognized term in developmental science and does not describe a growth pattern.
Choice D rationale
Top-to-bottom is another way of describing cephalocaudal development but does not specifically address the described behavior in grasping development. .
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Placing a baby’s crib next to a heater can pose a risk of overheating or burns. Newborns should be kept at a safe distance from heaters to prevent accidents.
Choice B rationale
Removing extra blankets from the crib is recommended to reduce the risk of suffocation and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). This choice reflects an understanding of crib safety.
Choice C rationale
Padding the mattress can pose suffocation risks and is not recommended. A firm mattress without any padding is the safest option for newborns.
Choice D rationale
Placing a baby on their stomach to sleep increases the risk of SIDS. The recommended sleeping position for newborns is on their back, as this significantly reduces the risk.