An infant was born at 34 weeks' gestation and is being treated in the NICU for apnea of prematurity. The infant is in an isolette with an apnea monitor and intravenous fluids. The apnea monitor sounds, and the nurse checks the infant to find the infant is not breathing. The initial intervention by the nurse would be to:
A)Administer oxygen.
B)Perform back blows and chest thrusts.
C)Call a code.
D)Stroke the infant's back.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Stroking the infant's back is a gentle stimulation method often effective in prompting premature infants to resume breathing when they experience apnea of prematurity. This is a less invasive first step before escalating to more intensive interventions.

An Infant Was Born at 34 Weeks' Gestation and Is