Question

After the birth of her daughter, a mother tells the nurse, "I was told that my baby has to have an injection of vitamin K. She's so small to be getting a shot. Why does she have to have it?" How should the nurse respond?

1. "Your baby needs the injection to help her develop red blood cells."

2. "An injection of vitamin K will help prevent your baby from becoming jaundiced."

3. "Newborns are deficient in vitamin K. This treatment will protect your baby from bleeding."

4. "A newborn's blood clots extremely rapidly. This injection will help decrease the clotting time." (Nugent 327)
Nugent, Patricia M. Mosby's Review Questions for the NCLEX-RN® Examination, 7th Edition. Mosby, 2011. VitalBook file.

Answer 1

Newborns require a vitamin K injection because they are born with a deficiency in this nutrient, which is vital for proper blood clotting. The injection prevents potentially serious bleeding issues like Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB).

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should explain to the mother that newborns are naturally deficient in vitamin K, and this deficiency can lead to serious bleeding issues because vitamin K is essential for proper blood clotting. The correct answer to why the baby needs a vitamin K injection is: "Newborns are deficient in vitamin K. This treatment will protect your baby from bleeding." Vitamin K is crucial for the synthesis of certain proteins required for blood clotting, and without it, the newborn is at risk of developing Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB).

A newborn's liver is not fully mature and, therefore, has a limited ability to produce vitamin K. Additionally, the infant's gut does not yet have the bacteria that synthesize vitamin K. The injection of vitamin K at birth is a preventive measure to protect infants from potential hemorrhages, especially in the first few days of life when the risk of VKDB is highest.