Question

The nurse assessing a newborn knows that the most critical physiologic change required of the newborn is:

a. Closure of fetal shunts in the circulatory system.
b. Full function of the immune defense system at birth.
c. Maintenance of a stable temperature.
d. Initiation and maintenance of respirations.

Answer 1

The most critical physiologic change required of the newborn is the initiation and maintenance of respiration. This transition enables the newborn to start receiving oxygen and eliminates the need for the fetal circulatory system.

Step-by-step explanation:

The first breath a newborn takes at birth inflates the lungs and dramatically alters the circulatory system, closing the fetal shunts that direct oxygenated blood away from the lungs and liver during fetal life. This transition enables the newborn to start receiving oxygen and eliminates the need for the fetal circulatory system. It is essential for the newborn to begin breathing on its own to sustain life. This change takes precedence over other physiologic changes, such as full immune system function, stable temperature maintenance, and establishment of intestinal flora.