Physiologic and Behavioral Adaptations
of the Newborn
A woman gave birth to a healthy 7-pound, 13-ounce infant girl. The nurse suggests that
the woman place the infant to her breast within 15 minutes after birth. The nurse knows
that breastfeeding is effective during the first 30 minutes after birth because this is the:
a. Transition period.
b. First period of reactivity.
c. Organizational stage.
d. Second period of reactivity. - Answer b. First period of reactivity.
Part of the health assessment of a newborn is observing the infant's breathing pattern.
A full-term newborn's breathing pattern is predominantly:
a. Abdominal with synchronous chest movements.
b. Chest breathing with nasal flaring.
c. Diaphragmatic with chest retraction.
d. Deep with a regular rhythm. - Answer a. Abdominal with synchronous chest
movements.
While assessing the newborn, the nurse should be aware that the average expected
apical pulse range of a full-term, quiet, alert newborn is:
a. 80 to 100 beats/min.
b. 100 to 120 beats/min.
c. 120 to 160 beats/min.
d. 150 to 180 beats/min. - Answer c. 120 to 160 beats/min.
A newborn is placed under a radiant heat warmer, and the nurse evaluates the infant's
body temperature every hour. Maintaining the newborn's body temperature is important
for preventing:
a. Respiratory depression.
b. Cold stress.
c. Tachycardia.
d. Vasoconstriction. - Answer b. Cold stress.
An African-American woman noticed some bruises on her newborn girl's buttocks. She
asks the nurse who spanked her daughter. The nurse explains that these marks are
called:
a. Lanugo.
b. Vascular nevi.
c. Nevus flammeus.
d. Mongolian spots - Answer d. Mongolian spots
, While examining a newborn, the nurse notes uneven skin folds on the buttocks and a
click when performing the Ortolani maneuver. The nurse recognizes these findings as a
sign that the newborn probably has:
a. Polydactyly.
b. Clubfoot.
c. Hip dysplasia.
d. Webbing - Answer c. Hip dysplasia.
A new mother states that her infant must be cold because the baby's hands and feet are
blue. The nurse explains that this is a common and temporary condition called:
a. Acrocyanosis.
b. Erythema neonatorum.
c. Harlequin color.
d. Vernix caseosa. - Answer a. Acrocyanosis.
The nurse assessing a newborn knows that the most critical physiologic change
required of the newborn is:
a. Closure of fetal shunts in the circulatory system.
b. Full function of the immune defense system at birth.
c. Maintenance of a stable temperature.
d. Initiation and maintenance of respirations. - Answer d. Initiation and maintenance of
respirations.
The parents of a newborn ask the nurse how much the newborn can see. The parents
specifically want to know what type of visual stimuli they should provide for their
newborn. The nurse responds to the parents by telling them:
a. "Infants can see very little until about 3 months of age."
b. "Infants can track their parent's eyes and distinguish patterns; they prefer complex
patterns."
c. "The infant's eyes must be protected. Infants enjoy looking at brightly colored stripes."
d. "It's important to shield the newborn's eyes. Overhead lights help them see better." -
Answer b. "Infants can track their parent's eyes and distinguish patterns; they prefer
complex patterns."
While evaluating the reflexes of a newborn, the nurse notes that with a loud noise the
newborn symmetrically abducts and extends his arms, his fingers fan out and form a "C"
with the thumb and forefinger, and he has a slight tremor. The nurse would document
this finding as a positive:
a. Tonic neck reflex.
b. Glabellar (Myerson) reflex.
c. Babinski reflex.
d. Moro reflex. - Answer d. Moro reflex.
of the Newborn
A woman gave birth to a healthy 7-pound, 13-ounce infant girl. The nurse suggests that
the woman place the infant to her breast within 15 minutes after birth. The nurse knows
that breastfeeding is effective during the first 30 minutes after birth because this is the:
a. Transition period.
b. First period of reactivity.
c. Organizational stage.
d. Second period of reactivity. - Answer b. First period of reactivity.
Part of the health assessment of a newborn is observing the infant's breathing pattern.
A full-term newborn's breathing pattern is predominantly:
a. Abdominal with synchronous chest movements.
b. Chest breathing with nasal flaring.
c. Diaphragmatic with chest retraction.
d. Deep with a regular rhythm. - Answer a. Abdominal with synchronous chest
movements.
While assessing the newborn, the nurse should be aware that the average expected
apical pulse range of a full-term, quiet, alert newborn is:
a. 80 to 100 beats/min.
b. 100 to 120 beats/min.
c. 120 to 160 beats/min.
d. 150 to 180 beats/min. - Answer c. 120 to 160 beats/min.
A newborn is placed under a radiant heat warmer, and the nurse evaluates the infant's
body temperature every hour. Maintaining the newborn's body temperature is important
for preventing:
a. Respiratory depression.
b. Cold stress.
c. Tachycardia.
d. Vasoconstriction. - Answer b. Cold stress.
An African-American woman noticed some bruises on her newborn girl's buttocks. She
asks the nurse who spanked her daughter. The nurse explains that these marks are
called:
a. Lanugo.
b. Vascular nevi.
c. Nevus flammeus.
d. Mongolian spots - Answer d. Mongolian spots
, While examining a newborn, the nurse notes uneven skin folds on the buttocks and a
click when performing the Ortolani maneuver. The nurse recognizes these findings as a
sign that the newborn probably has:
a. Polydactyly.
b. Clubfoot.
c. Hip dysplasia.
d. Webbing - Answer c. Hip dysplasia.
A new mother states that her infant must be cold because the baby's hands and feet are
blue. The nurse explains that this is a common and temporary condition called:
a. Acrocyanosis.
b. Erythema neonatorum.
c. Harlequin color.
d. Vernix caseosa. - Answer a. Acrocyanosis.
The nurse assessing a newborn knows that the most critical physiologic change
required of the newborn is:
a. Closure of fetal shunts in the circulatory system.
b. Full function of the immune defense system at birth.
c. Maintenance of a stable temperature.
d. Initiation and maintenance of respirations. - Answer d. Initiation and maintenance of
respirations.
The parents of a newborn ask the nurse how much the newborn can see. The parents
specifically want to know what type of visual stimuli they should provide for their
newborn. The nurse responds to the parents by telling them:
a. "Infants can see very little until about 3 months of age."
b. "Infants can track their parent's eyes and distinguish patterns; they prefer complex
patterns."
c. "The infant's eyes must be protected. Infants enjoy looking at brightly colored stripes."
d. "It's important to shield the newborn's eyes. Overhead lights help them see better." -
Answer b. "Infants can track their parent's eyes and distinguish patterns; they prefer
complex patterns."
While evaluating the reflexes of a newborn, the nurse notes that with a loud noise the
newborn symmetrically abducts and extends his arms, his fingers fan out and form a "C"
with the thumb and forefinger, and he has a slight tremor. The nurse would document
this finding as a positive:
a. Tonic neck reflex.
b. Glabellar (Myerson) reflex.
c. Babinski reflex.
d. Moro reflex. - Answer d. Moro reflex.
