Question

The nurse assisted with the delivery of a newborn. Which nursing action is most effective in preventing heat loss by evaporation?

A) Applying a cold compress to the newborn's forehead.
B) Placing the newborn under a fan.
C) Giving the newborn a warm bath.
D) Drying the infant with a warm blanket.

Answer 1

To prevent heat loss by evaporation in a newborn, the most effective nursing action is to dry the infant with a warm blanket, which conserves body heat and prevents cooling.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nursing action most effective in preventing heat loss by evaporation for a newborn is D) Drying the infant with a warm blanket. Newborns are particularly vulnerable to heat loss due to their high surface area to volume ratio and their inability to regulate body temperature effectively right after birth. Drying the newborn helps to remove the moisture that can lead to evaporative cooling. Unlike the incorrect options, which could exacerbate cooling, using a warm blanket helps to conserve the newborn's body heat and prevents the cooling effect of evaporation.