The nurse is performing an Apgar assessment on a newborn client at 1 minute of life. The newborn is completely blue, has a heart rate of 110/min, and is emitting a weak cry. Active movement and flexion of extremities are noted and the newborn grimaces when nares are suctioned. Which Apgar score should the nurse assign this newborn?

Question

The nurse is performing an Apgar assessment on a newborn client at 1 minute of life.  The newborn is completely blue, has a heart rate of 110/min, and is emitting a weak cry.  Active movement and flexion of extremities are noted and the newborn grimaces when nares are suctioned.  Which Apgar score should the nurse assign this newborn?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

11ecbb05_cc13_73b9_b433_0d7b0dba6976_MD0009_00 The Apgar score is an assessment tool used to describe how well a newborn is transitioning to extrauterine life. Apgar scoring is done at 1 and 5 minutes of life. Apgar scores do not predict future neurologic outcomes, nor should assigning Apgar scores delay the decision to initiate resuscitation. An Apgar score of 6 at 1 minute of life is appropriate for a newborn with the following findings: Completely blue (0 points for appearance/color of skin) Heart rate >100/min (2 points for pulse) Grimaces during stimuli (eg, nasal suction) (1 point for grimace/reaction) Actively moves with good tone (ie, flexion of arms and legs) (2 points for activity/muscle tone) Emits a weak cry (1 point for respiratory effort) Apgar scoring is repeated every 5 minutes for up to 20 minutes if the 5-minute Apgar score is <7. Scores <7 indicate difficulty transitioning and may require further interventions (eg, oxygen, suctioning) in addition to typical supportive measures (eg, stimulating, drying, warming). (Options A and B) An Apgar score of 4 or 5 is too low for a newborn with these findings. (Option D) An Apgar score of 8 is too high for a newborn with these findings. Educational objective: The Apgar score is an assessment tool used to describe how well a newborn is transitioning to extrauterine life. Scores are assigned at 1 and 5 minutes of life. If the 5-minute Apgar score is <7, it is repeated every 5 minutes for up to 20 minutes.

The Nurse Is Performing an Apgar Assessment on a Newborn