A nurse makes the following observations when admitting a full-term, breastfeeding baby into the neonatal nursery: 9 lb 2 oz (4,139 grams), 21 inches long, TPR 96.6°F (35.9°C), 158, 62, jittery, pink body with bluish hands and feet, crying.
Which of the following nursing actions is of highest importance?
Swaddle the baby to provide warmth.
Assess the glucose level of the baby.
Take the baby to the mother for feeding.
Administer the routine neonatal medications.
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A rationale
Swaddling provides warmth but doesn't address jitteriness, which may be due to hypoglycemia.
Choice B rationale
Jitteriness in a newborn can indicate hypoglycemia. Prompt glucose assessment is crucial for early detection and management.
Choice C rationale
Feeding could help with glucose levels, but without knowing the glucose status, it might not be the immediate priority.
Choice D rationale
Routine medications are important but not as urgent as addressing possible hypoglycemia in a jittery baby.
Free Nursing Test Bank
- Free Pharmacology Quiz 1
- Free Medical-Surgical Quiz 2
- Free Fundamentals Quiz 3
- Free Maternal-Newborn Quiz 4
- Free Anatomy and Physiology Quiz 5
- Free Obstetrics and Pediatrics Quiz 6
- Free Fluid and Electrolytes Quiz 7
- Free Community Health Quiz 8
- Free Promoting Health across the Lifespan Quiz 9
- Free Multidimensional Care Quiz 10
View Related questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Decreased muscle tone is not typically associated with NAS. NAS often presents with increased muscle tone due to withdrawal symptoms.
Choice B rationale
A continuous high-pitched cry is a hallmark sign of NAS, indicating withdrawal and discomfort. This is due to overstimulation of the central nervous system.
Choice C rationale
Newborns with NAS often have difficulty sleeping due to irritability and discomfort, sleeping for shorter periods.
Choice D rationale
Tremors in NAS are typically pronounced and continuous, not just when disturbed. These tremors result from withdrawal effects on the nervous system.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Checking blood sugar is important in gestational diabetes but isn't immediate priority in a triage setting compared to assessing urgent conditions that could harm the fetus or mother immediately.
Choice B rationale
Assessing vaginal blood loss post-abortion is crucial, but in the presence of ruptured membranes, fetal heart rate checks take precedence to ensure the fetus's immediate well-being.
Choice C rationale
Assessing patellar reflexes in pre-eclampsia management is significant, but immediate priority in labor and delivery triage goes to ensuring fetal safety after membrane rupture.
Choice D rationale
Checking the fetal heart rate after membrane rupture is a priority because it provides immediate information about the fetus's status and any potential complications like cord prolapse or distress.