A healthcare provider is assisting with the care of a newborn immediately following birth. Which of the following nursing interventions is the highest priority?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Covering the newborn's head with a cap. This is the highest priority as newborns are at risk for heat loss due to their large head surface area. By covering the newborn's head with a cap, heat loss can be minimized, helping to maintain the baby's body temperature. This is crucial for the newborn's overall well-being and to prevent complications such as hypothermia. Initiating breastfeeding (A) is important for newborn nutrition but can be delayed slightly without immediate harm. Performing the initial bath (B) can also wait as it is not as urgent as maintaining the newborn's temperature. Giving a vitamin K injection (C) is important for blood clotting but can be done after ensuring the baby's temperature is stable.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C. Tilt the bottle to prevent air from entering as the baby sucks is incorrect. It is important not to tilt the bottle as it can cause the baby to swallow air, leading to gas and discomfort. A: Keeping the baby's head elevated helps prevent choking. B: Allowing the baby to burp reduces gas and discomfort. D: Soft, formed yellow stools indicate a healthy digestive system. Thus, C is the only statement that may lead to issues and requires further instruction.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Ask the client if they have thoughts of harming themselves or their infant. This is the priority because postpartum psychosis poses a risk of harm to the client and the infant. Assessing for suicidal or homicidal ideation is crucial to ensure safety. Choice A may be important but ensuring immediate safety takes precedence. Choice C is important but not the priority. Choice D may provide background information but does not address the immediate safety concern.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Assist the client to the bathroom to void. A boggy and displaced fundus to the right in a postpartum client suggests a full bladder, which can displace the uterus. Voiding helps the uterus contract back to its normal position, reducing the risk of postpartum hemorrhage. Encouraging Kegel exercises (A) is not appropriate in this situation. Moving to the left lateral position (B) may provide temporary relief but does not address the underlying issue. Asking the client to rate her pain (C) is not relevant to the management of a displaced fundus.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Erythromycin. Erythromycin is the standard treatment for preventing ophthalmia neonatorum, a condition caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Chlamydia trachomatis. It is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that effectively prevents bacterial infections in newborns. Ofloxacin (A) is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic not typically used in newborns. Nystatin (B) is an antifungal medication used for treating fungal infections, not bacterial infections like ophthalmia neonatorum. Ceftriaxone (D) is a cephalosporin antibiotic used for various bacterial infections, but it is not the first-line treatment for preventing ophthalmia neonatorum.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C. Cleaning the penis with each diaper change is crucial for proper circumcision care to prevent infection. This statement shows understanding of the teaching as it emphasizes the importance of keeping the area clean. A: The circumcision healing within a couple of days is incorrect as it usually takes about 1-2 weeks. B: Not removing the yellow mucus can lead to infection, so this is an incorrect statement. D: Giving a tub bath within a couple of days can increase the risk of infection, so this statement is incorrect.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: A normal postpartum discharge of lochia. This finding indicates a normal postpartum process. Lochia is the vaginal discharge after childbirth consisting of blood, mucus, and uterine tissue. The gush of dark red blood followed by cessation is typical of lochia rubra, the initial stage of postpartum bleeding. The firm, midline, and well-positioned uterus indicates proper involution. Choices A and B are incorrect as the firm uterus rules out hematoma or laceration. Choice D is incorrect as the amount of bleeding described is within the normal range for postpartum lochia.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: This is more commonly seen in newborns who have dark skin. The bluish-brown marking described is likely a Mongolian spot, a common birthmark in darker-skinned infants. It is not related to hyperbilirubinemia (jaundice), forceps marks, or birth trauma. Mongolian spots are benign and typically fade over time. This statement is correct as it addresses the specific characteristic of the marking and its association with dark skin pigmentation in newborns.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Rationale: C is correct because keeping the nipple full of formula throughout the feeding helps prevent the baby from swallowing air, reducing the risk of gas and colic. A is incorrect because burping should be done mid-feeding. B is incorrect because newborns should be held in an upright position while feeding to prevent choking. D is incorrect because unused formula should be discarded within 1-2 hours, not refrigerated.