Chapter 18: Caring for the Normal Newborn Flashcards
(132 cards)
Immediate Neonatal Assessment
- physical condition assessed
- suction if indicated
- infant handed to the nurse, placed in a sterile baby blanket, and placed on mother abdomen
- nurse observes infants respiratory effort, color, muscle tone, and the activities under way are stimulating the neonate to breathe deeply and cry (lightly flicking the soles of feet might help make baby cry)
Placing infant under radiant heater
the nurse dries the infant before placing him unclothed on a clean, dry blanket under the radiant heater unit
Nursing Insight- Observing Standard precautions when handling the neonate
there is a possibility of transmission of viruses such as hepatitis B (HBV) and HIV from maternal blood and blood-stained amniotic fluid, the neonate is considered a potential contamination source
-nurses must wear gloves until blood and amniotic fluid are removed by bathing
What does respiratory difficulty look like in a newborn?
- rib or sternal retractions
- “grunting sounds”
- nasal flaring
How does a nurse check the heart rate after delivery?
place the thumb and two fingers at the base of the umbilical cord and counts the pulsations
How to assess the temperature of the newborn
- axillary
- thermoprobe and recording monitor to the skin
Number of Vessels in the Umbilical Cord upon assessment of newborn
3 Vessels (AVA)
- 2 arteries
- 1 vein
Apgar Score of the infant
-done at 1 and 5 minutes after birth
-score provides an objective means for assessing neonates immediate adaptation to extrauterine life
>5 categories:
1. Respiratory effort
2. Heart rate
3. Muscle tone
4. Reflex irritability
5. Skin color
>score for each categories ranges from 0-2
Normal Respirations for a Neonate at birth
30-60 breaths per minute
- irregular
- no retractions or grunting
Normal Apical Pulse for a Neonate at Birth
120-160 bpm
Normal Temperature for a Neonate at Birth
97.7-99.3 degrees F (36.5-37.4 D C)
Normal Skin Color for a Neonate at Birth
pink body, blue extremities (acrocyanosis)
Normal Gestational Age for a Neonate at Birth
full term; >37 completed weeks (should be 38-42 weeks to remain with parents for an extended time period)
Normal Weight for a Neonate at Birth
2,500-4,300 grams
Normal Length for a Neonate at Birth
45-54 cm (18 to 22 inches)
-measured in a recumbent length (crown-to-heel, in a supine position)
Indications that would necessitate the need for Infant stabilization
- nasal flaring
- grunting respirations
- rib retractions
- heart rate less than 120 bpm or greater than 160 bpm
- pallor
- serious congenital anomalies (ex: neural tube defect)
- preterm infant (less than 38 weeks gestational age)
- infant of diabetic mother
- infant who appears small for gestational age
Signs and Symptoms of Neonatal Respiratory Distress
- generalized cyanosis
- tachycardia (> 160 bpm)
- tachypnea (respirations >70 breaths/min)
- rib retractions
- expiratory grunting
- flaring nostrils
Erythromycin
prophylactic ophthalmic agent
- prophylaxis of ophthalmia neonatorum, eye inflammation from gonorrheal or chlamydial infection contracted during passage through mothers birth canal
- bacteriostatic action
- given to infant 1 hour after birth
- Contraindicated: hypersensitivity
- Side effects: irritation
Vitamin K (phytonadione)
given IM to newborn
-to prevent neonatal injury caused by hemorrhage
-newborn usually has low vitamin K at birth
-vitamin k acts as a catalyst to synthesize prothrombin, needed for blood clotting, in the liver
-prevention and treatment of hypoprothrombinemia
-prevention of bleeding
-administer within 2 hours after birth
>report symptoms of unusual bleeding or bruising (bleeding gums; nosebleed; black tarry stools; hematuria; or bleeding from the base of the umbilical cord or other wound)
>decrease in hemoglobin or hematocrit levels or any bleeding may indicate that the effects of the medicine have no been achieved and more vitamin k may be necessary
Newborn Hepatitis B Vaccination
helps prevent Hepatitis B
- given in a series of 3 doses beginning at birth
- given within 12 hours of birth
- obtain written consent before administration
Assessment of Blood Glucose in the Newborn
helps prevent newborn injury r/t hypoglycemia
-monitoring takes places within 1st hour
-hypoglycemia for term infant= < 35 mg/dL, or plasma concentration of < 40 mg/dL
>S/S= jitteriness, apnea, seizures, or lethargy); require immediate attention to prevent brain cell damage
Body Positioning of the Newborn
-a position of flexion of the upper and lower extremities; enables them to touch their face, sucks their fingers, and explore their world
-symmetrical
>if asymmetrical, or cant move extremity= further investigation
Safe Positions to Prevent SIDS
-supine position for sleep (wholly on the back) for every sleep until 1 year of life
> side sleeping not safe
Assessment of Skin Color: Jaundice
(hyperbilirubinemia)
- yellow coloration of the skin
- develops gradually in a head-to-toe pattern
- term infant < 24 hours who has visual jaundice = “pathological jaundice” and is because of blood incompatibility with mother