You are caring for an 18-day-old boy with inadequate respirations. What instruction would you provide to your new partner as she is ventilating him with the bag-valve mask?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Inadequate respirations in an 18-day-old male is a serious issue that requires immediate intervention. When ventilating a patient with a bag-valve mask, it is important to watch for chest rise and fall, rather than focusing on the volume of air delivered. Instructing the partner to "squeeze the bag just enough so that you get a nice rise and fall of his chest" is the best option. Option B is incorrect because giving extra pressure could potentially harm the baby's underdeveloped lungs. Option C is incorrect because 4 breaths per minute are not enough to maintain adequate oxygenation. Option D is incorrect because the heart rate is not the only variable to consider when monitoring a patient's respiratory status.

You Are Caring for an 18-Day-Old Boy with Inadequate Respirations