Final answer:
A nurse should assess a newborn for respiratory depression, hypotonia, feeding difficulties, lethargy, and use the Apgar score after delivery when a mother had high levels of magnesium sulfate. Magnesium sulfate affects neuromuscular function, making these assessments particularly relevant. Long-term effects might include insulin resistance based on animal studies.
Step-by-step explanation:
After delivery, a nurse should assess an infant whose mother had high levels of magnesium sulfate for several potential effects. These could include respiratory depression, hypotonia (decreased muscle tone), feeding difficulties, lethargy, and weak cry. The nurse might use the Apgar score, which evaluates criteria such as skin color, heart rate, reflexes, muscle tone, and respiration in newborns, to assess the infant's condition immediately after birth. Magnesium sulfate administered to the mother during pregnancy can impact the fetus, and in the newborn, one may see side effects reminiscent of magnesium's wide array of physiological roles, which include interference with neuromuscular function, leading to issues noted in the Apgar assessment.
Additionally, long-term effects on insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome have been noted in animal studies, indicating that high maternal magnesium levels could predispose offspring to later health complications. However, during the immediate postpartum period, focus is generally on acute signs that can be evaluated through the Apgar score and other clinical assessments. The nurse should be vigilant for signs of respiratory distress and other immediate challenges in the newborn.