Which nursing action is designed to avoid unnecessary heat loss in the newborn?
A) Place a blanket over the scale before weighing the infant.
B) Maintain room temperature at 70° F.
C) Undress the infant completely for assessments so they can be finished quickly.
D) Take the rectal temperature every hour to detect early changes.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Padding the scale prevents heat loss from the infant to a cold surface by conduction.Room temperature should be appropriate to prevent heat loss from convection.Also,if the room is warm enough,radiation will assist in maintaining body heat.Undressing the infant completely will expose the child to cooler room temperatures and cause a drop in body temperature due to convection.Hourly assessments are not necessary for a normal newborn with a stable temperature.Rectal temperatures are usually not done on the newborn.

Which Nursing Action Is Designed to Avoid Unnecessary Heat Loss