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Chapter 22 Physiologic and Behavioral
Adaptations of the Newborn Perry
Maternal Child Nursing Care, 6th Edition
Questions and Verified Answers 2025-
2026.
1. A woman gave birth to a healthy 7-lb, 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. - ANS: B
The first period of reactivity is the first phase of transition and lasts up to 30
minutes after birth. The infant is highly alert during this phase. The
transition period is the phase between intrauterine and extrauterine
existence. There is no such phase as the organizational stage. The second
period of reactivity occurs roughly between 4 and 8 hours after birth, after a
period of prolonged sleep.
1. What are modes of heat loss in the newborn? (Select all that apply.)
a. Perspiration
b. Convection
c. Radiation
d. Conduction
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e. Urination - ANSANS: B, C, D
Convection, radiation, evaporation, and conduction are the four modes of
heat loss in the newborn. Perspiration and urination are not modes of heat
loss in newborns
10. 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. - ANSANS: D
The characteristics displayed by the infant are associated with a positive
Moro reflex. The tonic neck reflex occurs when the infant extends the leg
on the side to which the infant's head simultaneously turns. The glabellar
reflex is elicited by tapping on the infant's head while the eyes are open. A
characteristic response is blinking for the first few taps. The Babinski reflex
occurs when the sole of the foot is stroked upward along the lateral aspect
of the sole and then across the ball of the foot. A positive response occurs
when all the toes hyperextend, with dorsiflexion of the big toe.
11. While assessing the integument of a 24-hour-old newborn, the nurse
notes a pink, papular rash with vesicles superimposed on the thorax, back,
and abdomen. The nurse should:
a. notify the physician immediately.
b. move the newborn to an isolation nursery.
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c. document the finding as erythema toxicum.
d. take the newborn's temperature and obtain a culture of one of the
vesicles. - ANSANS: C
Erythema toxicum (or erythema neonatorum) is a newborn rash that
resembles flea bites. This is a normal finding that does not require
notification of the physician, isolation of the newborn, or any additional
interventions.
12. A patient is warm and asks for a fan in her room for her comfort. The
nurse enters the room to assess the mother and her infant and finds the
infant unwrapped in his crib with the fan blowing over him on "high." The
nurse instructs the mother that the fan should not be directed toward the
newborn and the newborn should be wrapped in a blanket. The mother
asks why. The nurse's best response is:
a. "Your baby may lose heat by convection, which means that he will lose
heat from his body to the cooler ambient air. You should keep him wrapped
and prevent cool air from blowing on him."
b. "Your baby may lose heat by conduction, which means that he will lose
heat from his body to the cooler ambient air. You should keep him wrapped
and prevent cool air from blowing on him."
c. "Your baby may lose heat by evaporation, which means that he will lose
heat from his body to the cooler ambient air. You should keep him wrapped
a - ANSANS: A
"Your baby may lose heat by convection, which means that he will lose
heat from his body to the cooler ambient air. You should keep him wrapped
and prevent cool air from blowing on him" is an accurate statement.
Conduction is the loss of heat from the body surface to cooler surfaces, not
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Chapter 22 Physiologic and Behavioral
Adaptations of the Newborn Perry
Maternal Child Nursing Care, 6th Edition
Questions and Verified Answers 2025-
2026.
1. A woman gave birth to a healthy 7-lb, 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. - ANS: B
The first period of reactivity is the first phase of transition and lasts up to 30
minutes after birth. The infant is highly alert during this phase. The
transition period is the phase between intrauterine and extrauterine
existence. There is no such phase as the organizational stage. The second
period of reactivity occurs roughly between 4 and 8 hours after birth, after a
period of prolonged sleep.
1. What are modes of heat loss in the newborn? (Select all that apply.)
a. Perspiration
b. Convection
c. Radiation
d. Conduction
1
, 2
e. Urination - ANSANS: B, C, D
Convection, radiation, evaporation, and conduction are the four modes of
heat loss in the newborn. Perspiration and urination are not modes of heat
loss in newborns
10. 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. - ANSANS: D
The characteristics displayed by the infant are associated with a positive
Moro reflex. The tonic neck reflex occurs when the infant extends the leg
on the side to which the infant's head simultaneously turns. The glabellar
reflex is elicited by tapping on the infant's head while the eyes are open. A
characteristic response is blinking for the first few taps. The Babinski reflex
occurs when the sole of the foot is stroked upward along the lateral aspect
of the sole and then across the ball of the foot. A positive response occurs
when all the toes hyperextend, with dorsiflexion of the big toe.
11. While assessing the integument of a 24-hour-old newborn, the nurse
notes a pink, papular rash with vesicles superimposed on the thorax, back,
and abdomen. The nurse should:
a. notify the physician immediately.
b. move the newborn to an isolation nursery.
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, 3
c. document the finding as erythema toxicum.
d. take the newborn's temperature and obtain a culture of one of the
vesicles. - ANSANS: C
Erythema toxicum (or erythema neonatorum) is a newborn rash that
resembles flea bites. This is a normal finding that does not require
notification of the physician, isolation of the newborn, or any additional
interventions.
12. A patient is warm and asks for a fan in her room for her comfort. The
nurse enters the room to assess the mother and her infant and finds the
infant unwrapped in his crib with the fan blowing over him on "high." The
nurse instructs the mother that the fan should not be directed toward the
newborn and the newborn should be wrapped in a blanket. The mother
asks why. The nurse's best response is:
a. "Your baby may lose heat by convection, which means that he will lose
heat from his body to the cooler ambient air. You should keep him wrapped
and prevent cool air from blowing on him."
b. "Your baby may lose heat by conduction, which means that he will lose
heat from his body to the cooler ambient air. You should keep him wrapped
and prevent cool air from blowing on him."
c. "Your baby may lose heat by evaporation, which means that he will lose
heat from his body to the cooler ambient air. You should keep him wrapped
a - ANSANS: A
"Your baby may lose heat by convection, which means that he will lose
heat from his body to the cooler ambient air. You should keep him wrapped
and prevent cool air from blowing on him" is an accurate statement.
Conduction is the loss of heat from the body surface to cooler surfaces, not
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