Question

Where and how should you auscultate the NB (newborn) heart rate?

a) Over the abdomen using a stethoscope
b) Over the fontanelle using a stethoscope
c) Over the chest using a stethoscope
d) Over the back using a stethoscope

Answer 1

To auscultate a newborn's heart rate, a stethoscope should be placed over the chest, not the fontanelle, abdomen, or back, to accurately assess one of the components of the Apgar score.

Step-by-step explanation:

To auscultate the newborn (NB) heart rate, one should place a stethoscope over the chest. This location allows for listening to the heart's valves and rate effectively. Auscultation over the fontanelle, abdomen, or back is not the correct method for assessing the heart rate in a newborn. Instead, by positioning the stethoscope over the infant's chest, a caregiver can accurately determine the heart rate, which is a critical component of the Apgar score used to assess a newborn's immediate health post-delivery.