OB Practice: Nursing Care of the Newborn with Special Needs
What is a consequence of hypothermia in a newborn? Correct Answer holds breath 25
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Apnea is the cessation of breathing for a specific amount of time, and in newborns it usually occurs when the breath is held for 15 seconds. Apnea, cyanosis, respiratory distress, and increased oxygen demand are all consequences of hypothermia. p. 850
When discussing heat loss in newborns, placing a newborn on a cold scale would be an example of what type of heat loss? Correct Answer conduction
A conduction heat loss results from direct contact with an object that is cooler. p 850
Hypoglycemia in a mature infant is defined as a blood glucose level below which amount? Correct Answer 40 mg/100 mL whole blood
Because newborns do not manifest symptoms of a reduced glucose level until it decreases well below adult levels, a finding below 40 mg/100 mL whole blood is considered hypoglycemia. p 837
A woman who has given birth to a postterm newborn asks the nurse why her baby looks so thin with so little muscle. The nurse integrates understanding about which concept when responding to the mother? Correct Answer With postterm birth, the fetus uses stored nutrients to stay alive, and wasting occurs.
After 42 weeks' gestation, the placenta loses its ability to provide adequate oxygen and nutrients to the fetus, causing the fetus to use stored nutrients to stay alive. This leads to wasting. Meconium aspiration can occur with postterm newborns, but this is not the reason for the baby's wasted appearance. Hyperbilirubinemia occurs with the increased breakdown of red blood cells, but this too would not account for the wasted appearance. Exposure to an intrauterine infection is unrelated to the wasted appearance. p 858
When preparing to resuscitate a preterm newborn, the nurse would perform which action first? Correct Answer Place the newborn's head in a neutral position.
When preparing to resuscitate a preterm newborn, the nurse should position the head in a neutral position to open the airway. Hyperextending the newborn's neck would most likely close off the airway and is inappropriate. Positive-pressure ventilation is used if the newborn is apneic or gasping or the pulse rate is less than 100 beats per minute. Epinephrine is given if the heart rate is less than 60 beats per minute after 30 seconds of compression and ventilation. p 848 [Show Less]