Question

A nurse is assessing four newborns. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider?

a.A newborn who is 26 hr old and has erythema toxicum on his face
b.A newborn who is 32 hr old and has not passed a meconium stool
c.A newborn who is 12 hr old and has pink-tinged urine
d.A newborn who is 18 hr old and has an axillary temperature of 37.7° C (99.9° F)

Answer 1

The nurse should report the newborn who is 32 hours old and has not passed a meconium stool, as it may indicate a potential bowel issue requiring medical attention. Option (b) is true.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should report option (b) – a newborn who is 32 hours old and has not passed a meconium stool. Meconium, the infant's first stool, is typically passed within the first 24 to 48 hours after birth.

The absence of meconium within this timeframe could be indicative of a potential bowel obstruction or other gastrointestinal issues that may require medical attention.

The other options describe relatively common and generally expected findings in newborns: (a) erythema toxicum is a benign rash, (c) pink-tinged urine is often due to urate crystals and is considered normal, and (d) a slightly elevated axillary temperature within the normal range is not necessarily a cause for concern in the absence of other signs of illness.

Thus, option (b) is true.