Final answer:
The nurse's correct action after assessing an apical pulse is to document the findings as it is within the normal range for a newborn. No further immediate action, such as notification or additional checks, is implied to be necessary without additional information indicating distress or an abnormal heart rate.
Step-by-step explanation:
The appropriate action to be taken by the nurse after assessing an apical pulse on an 8lb 4 oz newborn infant would be to document the findings; it is within the normal range. Typically, a newborn's heart rate can range between 120 to 160 beats per minute, and based on the information provided, there is no indication that the heart rate is outside of the normal range or that there are signs of distress that would lead to an Apgar score indicating the need for immediate medical attention. Therefore, option 'a' is the correct action.
When conducting an Apgar test, healthcare providers assess five criteria, skin color, heart rate, reflex, muscle tone, and respiration. These criteria are essential for determining the infant's physical condition immediately after birth. A low Apgar score might indicate that the baby needs medical assistance, whereas a high score usually means the transition from the womb is going well. Since the question does not provide specific details about the baby's heart rate or other Apgar criteria apart from the apical pulse, assuming that the rate is within the normal range, it's standard procedure to document this finding without immediate concern.