A community health nurse is performing a vision screening on a 4-month-old infant. When shining a light source into the infant's visual field, which of the following is an expected finding?

A. Instilling erythromycin ophthalmic ointment in the newborn's eyes is important to prevent neonatal conjunctivitis, but drying the newborn takes precedence to prevent heat loss and stimulate breathing immediately after birth.

B. Weighing the newborn and placing identification bracelets can be done after drying the newborn.

C. Placing identification bracelets on the newborn is important for identification purposes but does not take precedence over drying the newborn to prevent heat loss and stimulate breathing.

D. Dry the newborn: Drying the newborn is the priority immediately after birth to prevent heat

loss and stimulate breathing. The newborn is wet from amniotic fluid and may be cold due to the temperature difference between the intrauterine and extrauterine environment. Drying the newborn with a warm, soft towel helps to prevent hypothermia and promotes the initiation of breathing, which is essential for oxygenation and lung expansion. This action supports the

newborn's transition to extrauterine life and sets the stage for subsequent assessments and interventions.

- Rationale for A: Following simple instructions indicates that the client is cooperative and may no longer pose a threat to themselves or others, which is a primary consideration for the removal of restraints. It shows the client's ability to understand and comply with directions, suggesting they are in a calmer state of mind. This behavioral change is a positive sign of regained control, making it safe to consider restraint removal.
- Rationale for B: While an apology may show remorse, it does not necessarily indicate that the client has calmed down or that they can safely interact without the restraints. Apologies can be driven by various motivations and do not reliably demonstrate a change in the risk of aggression.
- Rationale for C: A request to have restraints removed is not sufficient evidence of reduced risk. The client's desire to be unrestrained does not equate to a behavioral change that would justify removal, as it does not assess the client's current mental state or potential for aggression.
- Rationale for D: Maintaining eye contact is a positive social behavior but does not directly correlate with the client's potential for aggression or their ability to be safely managed without restraints. It is not a definitive indicator of the client's readiness to have restraints removed.