Final answer:
The appropriate nursing intervention for a postpartum mother with a negative rubella titer is to administer the rubella vaccine before discharge, ensuring protection for future pregnancies and preventing possible spread of the virus. A) Administer rubella vaccine before discharge
Step-by-step explanation:
When a postpartum mother has been recorded with a negative rubella titer, it indicates that she does not have immunity against the rubella virus. The appropriate nursing intervention would be to administer the rubella vaccine before discharge. This is critical because congenital rubella syndrome can cause severe developmental defects in newborns if the mother contracts rubella during pregnancy. Rubella is particularly dangerous during the first trimester, where the risk of stillbirth, spontaneous abortion, or congenital defects is highest. Although infections are rare in the United States due to effective vaccination programs, healthcare workers and those who work around children or immunocompromised individuals often require evidence of immunity, such as an MMR titer, prior to starting employment.
Administering the rubella vaccine is important for the mother's future pregnancies and for the protection of those around her. It is important to note that while encouraging breastfeeding can help boost the infant's immunity through the transfer of antibodies, it does not confer immunity against rubella to the mother. Vaccines such as hepatitis B or varicella might be indicated in other circumstances, but they do not address the mother's susceptibility to rubella.