A nurse cleansing a newborn in the delivery room notices small purple dots on the face of the newborn. How should the nurse record this finding?

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Petechiae are small purple or red spots that can appear on the skin as a result of bleeding under the skin. They can be a normal finding in newborns due to the trauma of delivery, especially on the face, where the pressure during birth can cause these tiny blood vessels to rupture. Mongolian spots are blue or purple-colored splotches that typically appear on the back or buttocks of babies, particularly those of Asian, African, or Indigenous descent. Erythema toxicum is a common rash seen in newborns, featuring small, red patches that might have a white or yellow dot in the center. Port-wine stains are a type of birthmark caused by swollen blood vessels, which create a reddish-purplish discoloration of the skin.

A Nurse Cleansing a Newborn in the Delivery Room Notices