Deck 22: The Normal Newborn: Nursing Care

Question 1

When teaching parents about mandatory newborn screening,it is important for the nurse to explain that the main purpose is to

A) Keep the state records updated.
B) Allow accurate statistical information.
C) Document the number of births.
D) Recognize and treat newborn disorders early.

Answer 1

Recognize and treat newborn disorders early.

Question 2

The nurse's initial action when caring for an infant with a slightly decreased temperature is to

A) Notify the physician immediately.
B) Place a cap on the infant's head and have the mother perform kangaroo care.
C) Tell the mother that the infant must be kept in the nursery and observed for the next 4 hours.
D) Change the formula, as this is a sign of formula intolerance.

Answer 2

Place a cap on the infant's head and have the mother perform kangaroo care.

Question 3

The nurse is discussing infant care as part of the mother-infant's couplet discharge planning.The mother asks the nurse "When will my baby's cord fall off?" The nurse responds,"Your baby's cord should fall off by _______________ after birth."

Answer 3

Two weeks
2 weeks
14 days
Cord separation is influenced by several factors,including type of cord care,type of birth and other perinatal events.The average cord separation time is 10 to 14 days.Some dried blood may be seen at the umbilicus after separation.

Question 4

A yellow crust has formed over the circumcision site.The mother calls the hotline at the local hospital,5 days after her son was circumcised.She is very concerned.On which rationale should the nurse base her reply?

A) After circumcision, the diaper should be changed frequently and fastened snugly.
B) This yellow crust is an early sign of infection.
C) The yellow crust should not be removed.
D) Discontinue the use of petroleum jelly to the tip of the penis.

Question 5

Nursing follow-up care often includes home visits for the new mother and her infant.Which information related to home visits is correct?

A) Ideally the visit is scheduled between 24 and 72 hours after discharge.
B) Home visits are available in all areas.
C) Visits are completed within a 30-minute time frame.
D) Blood draws are not a part of the home visit.

Question 6

When the nurse is in the process of health teaching it is very important that he or she consider the family's cultural beliefs regarding child care.One of these beliefs includes

A) Arab women are anxious to breastfeed while still in the hospital.
B) It is important to complement Asian parents about their new baby.
C) Women from India tie a black thread around the infant's waist.
D) In the Korean culture the patient's mother is the primary caregiver of the infant.

Question 7

A nurse is responsible for teaching new parents about the hygienic care of their newborn.The nurse should tell the parents to

A) Avoid washing the head for at least 1 week to prevent heat loss.
B) Sponge bathe only until the cord has fallen off.
C) Cleanse the ears and nose with cotton-tipped swabs, such as Q-tips.
D) Water temperature should be at least 38° C.

Question 8

In providing and teaching cord care,what is an important principle?

A) Cord care is done only to control bleeding.
B) Alcohol is the only agent used for cord care.
C) It takes a minimum of 24 days for the cord to separate.
D) The process of keeping the cord dry will decrease bacterial growth.

Question 9

An unfortunate but essential role of the nurse is protecting the infant from abduction.Which statement regarding the profile of a potential abductor is the most accurate?

A) Male gender
B) A young woman who has had a previous pregnancy loss
C) A middle-aged woman past childbearing age
D) A female with a number of children of her own

Question 10

With regard to lab tests and diagnostic tests in the hospital after birth,nurses should be aware that

A) All states test for phenylketonuria (PKU), hypothyroidism, cystic fibrosis, and sickle cell diseases.
B) Federal law prohibits newborn genetic testing without parental consent.
C) If genetic screening is done before the infant is 24 hours old, it should be repeated at age 1 to 2 weeks.
D) Hearing screening is now mandated by federal law.

Question 11

Nurses can help parents deal with the issue and fact of circumcision if they explain

A) The pros and cons of the procedure during the prenatal period
B) That the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all newborn males be routinely circumcised
C) That circumcision is rarely painful and that any discomfort can be managed without medication
D) That the infant will likely be alert and hungry shortly after the procedure

Question 12

Pain should be assessed regularly in all newborn infants.If the infant is displaying physiologic or behavioral cures indicating pain,measures should be taken to manage the infant's pain.Examples of nonpharmacologic pain management techniques include (select all that apply)

A) Swaddling
B) Nonnutritive sucking (pacifier)
C) Skin-to-skin contact with the mother
D) Sucrose
E) Acetaminophen

Question 13

As recently as 2005,the American Academy of Pediatrics revised safe sleep practices to assist in the prevention of sudden infant death syndrome.The nurse should model these practices in hospital and incorporate this information into the teaching for new parents.They include (select all that apply)

A) Fully supine position for all sleep
B) Side-sleeping position as an acceptable alternative
C) "Tummy time" for play
D) Placing the infant's crib in the parents' room
E) A soft mattress

Question 14

As part of Standard Precautions,nurses wear gloves when handling the newborn.The chief reason is

A) To protect the baby from infection
B) It is part of the Apgar protocol
C) To protect the nurse from contamination by the newborn
D) Because the nurse has primary responsibility for the baby during the first 2 hours

Question 15

A new father wants to know what medication was put into his infant's eyes and why it is needed.The nurse explains to the father that the purpose of the Ilotycin ophthalmic ointment is to

A) Destroy an infectious exudate caused by Staphylococcus that could make the infant blind.
B) Prevent gonorrheal and chlamydial infection of the infant's eyes potentially acquired from the birth canal.
C) Prevent potentially harmful exudate from invading the tear ducts of the infant's eyes, leading to dry eyes.
D) Prevent the infant's eyelids from sticking together and help the infant see.

Question 16

Hearing loss occurs in 9% of newborns.Auditory screening of all newborns within the first month of life is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.Reasons for having this testing performed include (select all that apply)

A) To prevent or reduce developmental delay
B) Reassurance for concerned new parents
C) Early identification and treatment
D) To help the child communicate better
E) To achieve one of the Healthy People 2020 goals

Question 17

The nurse administers vitamin K to the newborn for what reason?

A) Most mothers have a diet deficient in vitamin K, which results in the infant's being deficient.
B) Vitamin K prevents the synthesis of prothrombin in the liver and must be given by injection.
C) Bacteria that synthesize vitamin K are not present in the newborn's intestinal tract.
D) The supply of vitamin K is inadequate for at least 3 to 4 months, and the newborn must be supplemented.

Question 18

The normal term infant has little difficulty clearing its airway after birth.Most secretions are brought up to the oropharynx by the cough reflex.However,if the infant has excess secretions,the mouth and nasal passages can easily be cleared with a bulb syringe.When instructing parents on the correct use of this piece of equipment,it is important that the nurse teach them to

A) Avoid suctioning the nares.
B) Insert the compressed bulb into the center of the mouth.
C) Suction the mouth first.
D) Remove the bulb syringe from the crib when finished.

Question 19

To prevent the kidnapping of newborns from the hospital,the nurse should

A) Instruct the mother not to give her infant to anyone except the one nurse assigned to her that day.
B) Question anyone who is seen walking in the hallways carrying an infant.
C) Allow no visitors in the maternity area except those who have identification bracelets.
D) Restrict the amount of time infants are out of the nursery.

Question 20

Although circumcision continues to be a controversial procedure,many parents in the United States elect to have this surgery performed on their newborn sons.It is believed that newborns do not feel pain; therefore this is the optimum time for the procedure to be done and no anesthesia is required.Is this statement true or false?

Question 21

An important nursing intervention is maintaining safe glucose levels in the newborn.A common practice is to feed infants either breast milk or formula if glucose screening shows results of 40 to 45 mg/dL or less.Is this statement true or false?