Question

The nurse is assessing a full term, quiet, and alert newborn. What is the average expected apical pulse range (in beats per minute)?

1) 80 to 100
2) 100 to 120
3) 120 to 160
4) 150 to 180

Answer 1

The average expected apical pulse range for a full-term, quiet, and alert newborn is 120 to 160 beats per minute, which is crucial for assessing newborn health via the Apgar score.

Step-by-step explanation:

The average expected apical pulse range for a full-term, quiet, and alert newborn is typically 120 to 160 beats per minute. This information is crucial in the process of assessing a newborn's health, particularly during the first minutes after birth, which is encompassed in the Apgar score. This scoring system includes assessment of skin color, heart rate, reflex, muscle tone, and respiration. For the apical pulse of a newborn, a quiet and alert state would indicate a normal, healthy infant if the heart rate falls within the expected range.