Question

A nurse is caring for a newborn suspected of drug addiction. What should the nurse do to most accurately confirm that the newborn is addicted?

1. Examine the mother's arms for needle marks

2. Monitor the newborn closely for the first 48 hours

3. Check the mother's medication record for the previous 24 hours

4. Collect the newborn's urine by applying a collection bag to obtain a sample for testing

Answer 1

To confirm that a newborn is addicted, the nurse should collect the newborn's urine for testing. This provides direct evidence of drug exposure in the newborn's system. Monitoring the infant for withdrawal symptoms is also critical for their immediate care and safety.

Step-by-step explanation:

Confirming Newborn Drug Addiction

To most accurately confirm that a newborn is addicted, the nurse should collect the newborn's urine by applying a collection bag to obtain a sample for testing. This method ensures that the assessment is specifically targeted to the newborn's condition without being influenced by other variables. When babies are born to mothers who have used addictive substances, they may experience withdrawal symptoms due to physical dependence on the drug.

In cases where a mother has a heroin addiction, her newborn may also be dependent on the drug. Heroin, being a potent opioid, can cause severe withdrawal symptoms in newborns. To manage this, healthcare professionals may prescribe methadone as it is a longer-acting opioid that can help in gradually weaning the infant off the heroin, reducing the risk of severe withdrawal symptoms, which can be fatal if not managed properly.

Monitoring the mother's arms for needle marks and checking the mother's medication record can provide contextual information but are not definitive methods for diagnosing addiction in the newborn. Similarly, monitoring the newborn for 48 hours is important for observing any signs of withdrawal, but the most direct method to confirm addiction is through biochemical testing of the newborn's urine.