Final answer:
Epinephrine is used in NRP to support the heart's function and improve blood flow to vital organs in infants immediately after birth, helping to stimulate the heart and correct hypotension in severe cases.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of administering epinephrine during Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) protocols is to support the heart's function and improve blood flow to an infant's vital organs immediately after birth. Epinephrine causes vasoconstriction, which redirects blood to vital organs, and it also enhances the heart's ability to contract, thereby improving its pumping efficiency. As a last resort in severe cases of neonatal resuscitation, when initial steps such as ventilation have failed to establish an adequate heart rate, epinephrine is used to stimulate the heart and correct low blood pressure.