The nurse prepares to administer a vitamin K injection during the admission assessment for a newborn. The father asks, "Why does my baby need a shot?" Which rationale for administering this injection should the nurse include in the response?
A) Activates clotting factors
B) Dissolves blood clots
C) Promotes gas exchange
D) Promotes the production of hemoglobin

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Vitamin K injection is necessary for newborns because they have a low level of vitamin K at birth, and vitamin K is essential for the activation of clotting factors in the blood. This is important to prevent bleeding, including potentially life-threatening bleeding in the brain, which can occur in newborns who do not receive vitamin K supplementation.

The Nurse Prepares to Administer a Vitamin K Injection During