Question

You're assessing the five minute APGAR score of a newborn baby. On assessment, you note the following about your newborn patient: pink body and hands with cyanotic feet, heart rate 109, grimace to stimulation, flaccid, and irregular cry. What is your patient's APGAR score?

1) APGAR 8
2) APGAR 5
3) APGAR 6
4) APGAR 3

Answer 1

The newborn baby's APGAR score is 4, calculated by adding the individual scores from the five criteria: Appearance (1), Pulse (1), Grimace (1), Activity (0), and Respiration (1). This score is below the normal range and indicates the baby may be in distress, requiring immediate medical attention.

Step-by-step explanation:

When assessing the five-minute APGAR score of a newborn baby, we use the mnemonic APGAR, which stands for Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiration. Each of the five criteria is assigned a score of 0, 1, or 2. For the newborn baby in question:

• Appearance (skin color): 1 point (pink body with cyanotic feet)
• Pulse (heart rate): 1 point (heart rate 109)
• Grimace (reflex): 1 point (grimace to stimulation)
• Activity (muscle tone): 0 points (flaccid)
• Respiration: 1 point (irregular cry)

Adding these scores together, the newborn's APGAR score is 4 (1+1+1+0+1). A score of 4 falls within the range indicating that the baby may be in distress and signifies that this newborn needs immediate medical attention. Scores of 8 or above are normal, and anything below 7, especially at the 5-minute mark, may indicate the need for medical assistance.