Question

You're assessing the one minute APGAR score of a newborn baby. On assessment, you note the following about your newborn patient: weak cry, some flexion of the arm and legs, active movement and cries to stimulation, heart rate 145, and pallor all over the body and extremities. What is your patient's APGAR score?

1) APGAR 5
2) APGAR 9
3) APGAR 12
4) APGAR 6

Answer 1

The patient's APGAR score, based on the assessment provided, is 6, which is determined by adding up the individual scores for appearance (0 points), pulse (2 points), grimace (2 points), activity (1 point), and respiration (1 point). A score of 6 is slightly below the normal range.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student is concerned with assessing the one minute APGAR score of a newborn. Based on the observations provided: weak cry, some flexion of the arms and legs, active movement and cries to stimulation, heart rate 145, and pallor all over the body and extremities, the APGAR score can be calculated as follows:

• Appearance (skin color): Pale all over (0 points).
• Pulse (heart rate): Over 100 beats per minute (2 points).
• Grimace (reflex irritability): Grimace and cries to stimulation (2 points).
• Activity (muscle tone): Some flexion of arms and legs (1 point).
• Respiration: Weak cry (1 point).

Adding up the points for each criterion gives us a total APGAR score of 6, which is somewhat below the normal range. A score below 7 at the 5-minute mark may indicate the need for medical assistance.