Question

A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a newborn who has hyperbilirubinemia and is scheduled to receive phototherapy. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include?

a. Reposition the newborn every 4 hr
b. Lotion the newborn's skin twice per day
c. Check the newborn's temperature every 8 hr
d. Remove the newborn's eye mask during feedings

Answer 1

A nurse's care plan for a newborn receiving phototherapy for hyperbilirubinemia should include frequent repositioning, avoiding the application of lotion, closely monitoring temperature, and ensuring the eye mask stays on at all times during the phototherapy.

Step-by-step explanation:

A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a newborn who has hyperbilirubinemia and is scheduled to receive phototherapy. One of the interventions the nurse should include is repositioning the newborn frequently. This might be every 2 to 3 hours rather than every 4 hours to ensure even exposure of the skin to the UV light. Applying lotion to the newborn's skin is not advisable because it can block the UV light from reaching the skin and affecting bilirubin metabolism. Monitoring the newborn's temperature is critical but should be done more frequently than every 8 hours because the lights can cause fluctuations in body temperature. Finally, the newborn's eye mask, which protects the eyes from the UV light, must remain on during all times under the lights, including during feedings, to prevent damage to the retinas.