Question

A nurse is reviewing the laboratory report of a 24-hour-old newborn. Which result should the nurse report to the provider?

a) Positive Coombs test
b) Elevated white blood cell count
c) Absence of lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio
d) Normal blood glucose levels

Answer 1

A nurse should report a positive Coombs test for a 24-hour-old newborn as it can indicate hemolytic disease of the newborn and other potential health concerns related to antibodies affecting the infant's red blood cells.

Step-by-step explanation:

The laboratory result that a nurse should report to the provider for a 24-hour-old newborn is a) Positive Coombs test. The Coombs' test, which detects antibodies that can cause newborn jaundice, should be flagged if positive because this could indicate hemolytic disease of the newborn due to incompatible blood types between the mother and child, or another underlying issue such as maternal antibodies reacting against infant red blood cells, potentially leading to red blood cell lysis. In contrast, an elevated white blood cell count is common in newborns and may not require immediate reporting unless it is significantly high and indicative of an infection. An absence of lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio typically relates to lung maturity assessments in prenatal testing rather than postnatal. Lastly, normal blood glucose levels would be expected and would not typically be a concern warranting a report to the provider.