Question

The nurse is caring for a newborn who is 18 inches long, weighs 4 pounds, 14 ounces, has a head circumference of 13 inches, and a chest circumference of 10 inches. Based on these physical findings, assessment for which condition has the highest priority?

A) Hypoglycemia
B) Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS)
C) Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)
D) Hyperbilirubinemia

Answer 1

The newborn's assessment should prioritize Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) because the baby's weight falls below the threshold for low birthweight, which could lead to serious health complications.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given the scenario where the newborn is 18 inches long and weighs 4 pounds, 14 ounces, with a head circumference of 13 inches and a chest circumference of 10 inches, the assessment for Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) should be the highest priority. This is due to the newborn's weight being below the defined threshold for low birthweight, which is a weight at birth of less than 2.5 kg (5.5 lb), and low birthweight is a major cause of mortality shortly after birth, often due to IUGR or pre-term birth. The baby's measurements may indicate a deviation from typical full-term growth patterns, and a baby with IUGR is at an increased risk for complications such as hypoglycemia, respiratory distress, and other morbidities.