Question

To assess an apical pulse on a 8lb, 4oz newborn infant, the nurse should take which of the following actions?

- Place the diaphragm of the stethoscope between the nipple line and the sternal notch
- Place the diaphragm of the stethoscope between the second and third intercostal spaces, the midaxillary line
- Place the bell of the stethoscope between the fourth and fifth intercostal spaces, midclavicular line
- Place the bell of the stethoscope between the second and third intercostal spaces, the midsternal line.

Answer 1

To assess an apical pulse on a newborn infant, a nurse should place the bell of the stethoscope between the fourth and fifth intercostal spaces, midclavicular line. This is part of the Apgar score assessment, which helps evaluate the newborn's heart rate as well as other vital signs critical for determining their immediate health state.

Step-by-step explanation:

To assess an apical pulse on an 8lb, 4oz newborn infant, the nurse should place the bell of the stethoscope between the fourth and fifth intercostal spaces, midclavicular line. This specific location facilitates accurate auscultation of the newborn's heart rate, which is a crucial part of the Apgar score. Assessing the apical pulse is a painless procedure and is essential for determining the heart rate of the newborn, which is one of the five criteria of the Apgar score.

It is important to note that for newborns and infants, the bell of the stethoscope is used rather than the diaphragm due to the size of their chest and the nature of the sounds being assessed. Proper stethoscope placement is critical for obtaining an accurate measurement, and is one of the simplest yet effective diagnostic techniques to assess the state of a patient's heart.