Question

What does the nurse do to elicit the Moro reflex during a newborn assessment?

1. Turns the infant's head quickly to one side

2. Strokes the infant's back alongside the spine

3. Jars the infant's bassinet suddenly but gently

4. Taps the infant's bridge of the nose briskly but lightly (Nugent 326)
Nugent, Patricia M. Mosby's Review Questions for the NCLEX-RN® Examination, 7th Edition. Mosby, 2011. VitalBook file.

Answer 1

The nurse elicits the Moro reflex by turning the infant's head quickly to one side.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse elicits the Moro reflex during a newborn assessment by turning the infant's head quickly to one side. This reflex is an instinctive behavior that occurs in response to a sudden loss of support, simulating the sensation of falling. The Moro reflex involves suddenly spreading out the arms, bringing them back in toward the body, and usually crying. The Moro reflex is a normal response in newborns, involving the sudden extension and abduction of the arms and fingers in response to a quick change in head position or a loud noise. Turning the infant's head quickly to one side is the appropriate method to trigger this reflex. It is an important neurological reflex that helps assess the newborn's central nervous system and motor function. The other options (2, 3, and 4) are not typically associated with eliciting the Moro reflex.