A newborn is choking and turning cyanotic with the first sucks of sterile water. The healthcare provider prescribes x-rays and explains that the newborn may have a tracheoesophageal fistula.
Which intervention should the practical nurse implement until the diagnosis of tracheoesophageal fistula is confirmed?

Choice A rationale

Obtaining blood gas samples from an umbilical artery catheter (UAC) is a procedure performed by advanced practitioners, such as physicians or specialized critical care nurses, due to the inherent risks of arterial sampling, including vasospasm, thrombosis, and infection. This is beyond the scope of practice for a practical nurse.

Choice B rationale

Administering nebulized inhalation therapy requires a specific prescription and careful assessment of the infant's respiratory status. While PN scope varies, initiating such a therapy without explicit instruction and comprehensive assessment is typically outside a PN's independent practice, especially in a neonate with evolving respiratory needs.

Choice C rationale

Initiating 50% oxygen supplementation is a significant intervention that requires a physician's order and continuous monitoring of the infant's oxygen saturation to prevent hyperoxia, which can lead to complications such as retinopathy of prematurity or pulmonary damage. A PN would not independently initiate this.

Choice D rationale

Assessing and recording oxygen saturation levels using pulse oximetry is a fundamental nursing responsibility and falls well within the scope of practice for a practical nurse. This non-invasive assessment provides crucial data regarding the infant's oxygenation status, guiding further interventions and monitoring the effectiveness of oxygen therapy. Normal range for neonates is typically 90-95% or higher.

Choice A rationale

Pink-tinged urine can be a symptom of various conditions, including kidney issues or urinary tract infections. While individuals with sickle cell crisis can experience kidney complications, pink-tinged urine is not a universal or primary manifestation of a vaso-occlusive crisis. The immediate priority is pain management and infection prevention.

Choice B rationale

Palpitations, an awareness of one's own heartbeat, can be a symptom of various cardiac issues or a physiological response to stress or pain. While the heart rate is elevated (140 bpm, normal for a toddler is 90-140 bpm), this is likely secondary to the severe pain the child is experiencing and not the primary problem to be addressed.

Choice C rationale

Acute pain is a hallmark and often excruciating symptom of a sickle cell crisis, resulting from vaso-occlusion and tissue ischemia. The toddler's crying, restlessness, and aversion to touch strongly indicate severe pain, making it an immediate priority for intervention to alleviate suffering and prevent further complications.

Choice D rationale

Risk for infection is a significant concern in sickle cell disease due to functional asplenia, which compromises the immune system's ability to fight encapsulated bacteria. Despite the normal oxygen saturation, the elevated temperature (102°F or 38.8°C) in a child with sickle cell disease warrants immediate attention due to the high risk of severe infection.