Tuesday, January 16, 2024

The nurse is caring for a post-term, small-for-gestational age (SGA) newborn infant immediately after admission to the nursery.. Blood glucose levels



The nurse is caring for a post-term, small-for-gestational age (SGA) newborn infant immediately after admission to the nursery.

The priority nursing action would be to monitor which of the following?
  • A- Urinary output.
  • B- Total bilirubin levels.
  • C- Blood glucose levels.
  • D- Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels.

For a post-term, SGA newborn infant, the priority nursing action among the listed options is C. Blood glucose levels.

Here's why:

- Post-term:

Post-term infants are those born after 42 weeks of gestation and are at increased risk for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) due to depleted placental glycogen stores.

- SGA:

SGA infants are smaller than expected for their gestational age and have limited glycogen reserves, further increasing the risk of hypoglycemia.

- Hypoglycemia:

Hypoglycemia in newborns can lead to serious complications like seizures, brain damage, and even death if not identified and treated promptly.

- Other options:

While other listed parameters like urinary output, bilirubin levels, and hemoglobin/hematocrit are important to monitor, they are not as critical in the immediate management of a post-term, SGA newborn compared to blood glucose levels.

Therefore, the nurse's immediate priority should be to monitor the infant's blood glucose levels closely, typically every 1-2 hours in the first few hours after birth, and more frequently if hypoglycemia is suspected. Early detection and timely intervention with glucose supplementation can prevent serious complications.

Of course, the nurse should also monitor other vital signs, including temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate, and perform a thorough physical assessment to identify any other potential issues.