Newborn Nursery Assessment: Which Newborn Should Be Assessed First?
Which of the following newborn should the nurse assess first?
A. A newborn who is 10 hr old and has new onset tachypnea
B. A newborn who is 30 hr old and has blood-tinges discharge in her diaper
C. A newborn who is 24 hr old and has not had a meconium stool
D. A newborn who has a short frenulum and is having difficulty breastfeeding
Answer
The first newborn the nurse should assess is the one who is 10 hours old and has new onset tachypnea.
As a nurse in a newborn nursery, it is crucial to prioritize the assessment of newborns based on their presenting symptoms. In this scenario, the newborn who is 10 hours old and displaying new onset tachypnea should be assessed first.
Tachypnea, or rapid breathing, can indicate a potentially severe condition such as respiratory distress syndrome, infection, or heart problems. The rapid onset of tachypnea in a very young newborn warrants immediate attention and intervention to ensure the well-being and safety of the newborn.
While newborns with other symptoms such as blood-tinged discharge, lack of meconium stool, or breastfeeding difficulties also require assessment and care, they do not present the same level of immediate threat to life as tachypnea does. Therefore, it is imperative for the nurse to prioritize the assessment of the newborn displaying new onset tachypnea.