Final answer:
The most common problem a nurse should anticipate in an SGA neonate is hypoglycemia due to low glycogen and fat reserves, requiring immediate blood glucose level monitoring.
Step-by-step explanation:
A neonate born at 39 weeks' gestation classified as small for gestational age (SGA) often experiences several problems, but the most commonly occurring problem that a nurse should anticipate when planning care for this infant is B. Hypoglycemia. This condition arises because the infant's stores of glycogen and fat may be low due to the undernutrition and intrauterine growth restriction. Immediate monitoring and management of the infant's blood glucose levels are crucial to prevent seizures, brain injury, and other complications related to hypoglycemia.
While anemia, protein deficiency, and calcium deficiency can also occur in SGA neonates, hypoglycemia poses a more immediate risk to neonatal health and requires prompt attention. Therefore, nurses should be prepared to provide interventions to maintain normal glucose levels through feeding plans or glucose supplementation as needed.