Question

A pregnant patient in active labor is admitted to the emergency department. A toxicology screen and a physical assessment reveal that the patient is an active heroin addict. The nurse who cares for the neonate after delivery should anticipate which clinical manifestations?

1) Passivity and flat affect
2) Diarrhea and salivation
3) A shrill cry and irritability
4) Restless sleep and seizures

Answer 1

The nurse should expect to see a shrill cry, irritability, tremors, and possibly diarrhea and vomiting in the neonate born to a heroin-addicted mother, as these are symptoms of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS).

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse caring for the neonate born to a mother with active heroin addiction should anticipate observing clinical manifestations such as a shrill cry and irritability, which are symptoms of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), a condition resulting from the sudden discontinuation of fetal exposure to substances that were used or abused by the mother during pregnancy.

Neonates with NAS are often highly irritable, have poor sleep patterns, may experience diarrhea and vomiting, and can exhibit symptoms of central nervous system hyperirritability, such as tremors or, in severe cases, seizures. The treatment of NAS includes supportive care to manage withdrawal symptoms and prevent complications, as well as pharmacologic therapy in some cases.

Heroin is a teratogen that can cause physical dependence in the fetus, necessitating careful weaning and medical supervision after birth to avoid severe withdrawal symptoms, which could include seizures and even death if not properly managed.