Question

The parents of a preterm infant visit the infant in the newborn nursery. When they see the infant resting comfortably in the isolette, the parents express concern about disturbing the baby to hold it. Which response by the nurse best?

a. preterm infants have immature immune systems and handling them increases the risk of infection.
b. preterm infants need to conserve their strength, so it is best if you do not pick the infant up.
c. preterm infants need to develop a sense of trust and security and holding the infant promotes this.
d. preterm infants can become irritable if handled while sleeping, so first wake the infant up.

Answer 1

Option c is the best response because preterm infants need to develop a sense of trust and security, and holding promotes this.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best response by the nurse in this situation would be option c: preterm infants need to develop a sense of trust and security and holding the infant promotes this.

Preterm infants, who are born before 37 weeks of gestation, need to feel secure and develop a sense of trust in their environment. Holding the infant helps promote bonding between the parents and the baby, and it also provides comfort and reassurance. The parents need to have physical contact with the baby to establish a strong emotional connection and foster a positive parent-infant relationship.