A nurse delegates the task of neonatal vital-sign assessment to a nurse technician. Which instruction will the nurse give to the technician prior to assign care?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A breathing pause that lasts for 20 seconds or longer is considered apnea in newborns and requires immediate intervention. This is the most critical vital sign to report to the nurse. Using the abdominal muscles to breathe is a normal finding in newborns and does not require immediate intervention. Counting respirations for 15 seconds and multiplying by 4 is a standard method for determining respiratory rate in adults, but in neonates, it's important to count the full minute due to the variability in their breathing patterns. Reporting apnea for 10 seconds may not be considered significant enough to warrant immediate intervention.

A Nurse Delegates the Task of Neonatal Vital-Sign Assessment to a Nurse