Final answer:
The correct nursing intervention for a neonate with RDS is to position them to promote respiratory efforts, which optimizes oxygenation and reduces the work of breathing.
Step-by-step explanation:
An appropriate nursing intervention for a neonate with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is B. Position to promote respiratory efforts. Proper positioning can help reduce the work of breathing and optimize oxygenation. Positioning strategies such as the prone or side-lying position are often used.
Medical advances such as the administration of pulmonary surfactant have significantly reduced the mortality associated with RDS. This substance helps to decrease surface tension in the alveoli, facilitating easier inflation of the lungs and improving gas exchange. Other critical interventions might include nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), supplemental oxygen, mechanical ventilation, and maintaining the infant's body temperature.
It's crucial to provide supportive care to conserve the infant's energy and boost overall health. However, contrary to option D, incubators should maintain a neutral thermal environment that matches the infant's body temperature, rather than being set below body temperature, to prevent hypothermia and the associated increase in metabolic demand.