Question

At 1 minute after birth the nurse identifies that an infant is crying, has a heart rate of 140, has blue hands and feet, resists the suction catheter, and keeps the legs flexed and the arms extended. What Apgar score should the nurse assign for this infant?

A. 6
B. 7
C. 8
D. 9

Answer 1

The baby's APGAR score is 8, assessed from appearance (1), pulse (2), grimace (2), activity (1), and respiration (2). This score is considered normal, suggesting the newborn is in good health.

Step-by-step explanation:

The APGAR score is a quick test performed on a newborn at 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth. The nurse would evaluate the infant based on five criteria: appearance (skin color), pulse (heart rate), grimace (reflex), activity (muscle tone), and respiration. Considering the observations provided:

• Appearance: The baby has blue hands and feet with a normal body color, which is worth 1 point.
• Pulse: A heart rate of 140 beats per minute, which is normal, scores 2 points.
• Grimace: The baby resists the suction catheter, which suggests a good reflex, earning 2 points.
• Activity: The baby keeps the legs flexed and the arms extended. Given there is some flexion, this would score 1 point (full flexion would have scored 2).
• Respiration: The baby is crying, indicating good respiratory effort, so this gets 2 points.

Adding these up gives the baby an APGAR score of 8 (1+2+2+1+2=8), which is considered a normal score, indicating that the baby is transitioning well from the womb to the outside world. An APGAR score of 7 or above at 1-minute is generally normal, while a score below 7 may indicate the baby needs medical attention. Scores of 8 or above are typically considered good and suggest the newborn is in good health.