A perinatal nurse suspects that a newborn may be experiencing polycythemia.What further assessments should be made to confirm this condition?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Polycythemia,which is an abnormally high erythrocyte count,can place the infant at high risk for jaundice and organ damage due to increased viscosity of the blood cells.A peripherally drawn hematocrit for a normal infant ranges from 48 to 64%.If the hematocrit drawn from a central site is greater than 65%,the infant is considered to be polycythemic.Polycythemic infants are also at an increased risk for hypoglycemia and respiratory distress; therefore,hemoglobin levels and the respiratory rate should be assessed.

A Perinatal Nurse Suspects That a Newborn May Be Experiencing