A woman pregnant at term arrives at the small rural hospital in active labor. She has received no prenatal care. At delivery, it is discovered that the newborn has a gastroschisis defect. Immediate transfer to a pediatric hospital is planned. Nursing care to prepare the infant for discharge would include:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Gastroschisis is a congenital birth defect where the intestines are found outside of the abdominal cavity. The exposed intestines must be kept moist and free of bacterial contamination until surgical repair. Therefore, covering the exposed intestines with sterile moist gauze is the appropriate nursing care for this newborn. Wrapping the infant warmly in blankets or providing sterile water feeding are not priority nursing interventions for this condition. It is important for the parents to see and establish a bond with their infant, so preventing them from seeing the infant prior to transfer would not be appropriate.

A Woman Pregnant at Term Arrives at the Small Rural