Question

A nurse is caring for a newborn who is 70 hr old. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider?

a) Temperature instability

b) Poor feeding

c) Jaundice

d) Respiratory distress

Answer 1

Respiratory distress should be reported to the provider for a newborn who is 70 hours old as it could indicate a serious condition like RDS, requiring immediate medical attention.

Step-by-step explanation:

A nurse caring for a newborn who is 70 hours old should report respiratory distress to the provider. Respiratory distress in a newborn is a sign of a potentially serious condition such as Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS), which is more common in premature infants. Since insufficient production of pulmonary surfactant can prevent the newborn's lungs from inflating properly, RDS can result in difficulty breathing and inadequate gas exchange. This aligns with the newborn's Apgar score, where heart rate and respiration are the most critical criteria. Poor scores for either of these measurements, particularly respiration, may indicate the need for immediate medical attention.

While temperature instability, poor feeding, and jaundice are also concerns within the newborn population, they do not typically present the same level of immediate life-threatening risk that respiratory distress does. It is important to note that signs of early onset disease in newborns may include temperature instability and difficulty feeding, along with other symptoms such as apnea, irritability, and limpness.