A nurse is assisting with the care of a client who is at 36 weeks of gestation and experienced preterm prelabor rupture of membranes. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Swaddle the newborn during the treatment. Choice A reason:

Apply lotion to the newborn's skin twice per day. Rationale: The nurse should not apply lotion to the newborn's skin during phototherapy. Phototherapy involves exposing the baby's skin to light to treat hyperbilirubinemia. Applying lotion may interfere with the effectiveness of the treatment or cause adverse reactions.

Choice B reason:

Check the newborn's blood glucose every 2 hours. Rationale: While monitoring the newborn's blood glucose is an essential part of neonatal care, it is not directly related to phototherapy or the treatment of hyperbilirubinemia. Glucose monitoring is typically done to assess for hypoglycemia or other metabolic disturbances.

Choice C reason:

Swaddle the newborn during the treatment. Rationale: The newborn should not be swaddled during phototherapy because it limits exposure of the skin to the phototherapy lights, which is essential for reducing bilirubin levels.

Choice D reason:

Remove the newborn's eye mask during feedings. Rationale:The eye mask is used to protect the newborn's eyes from the bright lights during phototherapy, but it can be removed for feeding. It’s important to ensure that the newborn is fed properly, so removing the mask during feeding is a reasonable and necessary intervention.

Abdominal distention. Choice A reason:

Abdominal distention is a common manifestation of Hirschsprung's disease in infants. This condition is characterized by the absence of ganglion cells in the distal segment of the colon, leading to a functional obstruction. The absence of ganglion cells causes the affected part of the colon to become narrow and unable to relax, resulting in a buildup of stool and gas, leading to abdominal distention.

Choice B reason:

Steatorrhea, which is the presence of fatty, bulky, and foul-smelling stools, is not typically associated with Hirschsprung's disease. This manifestation is more commonly seen in conditions affecting the pancreas, liver, or small intestine, where the digestion and absorption of fats are impaired.

Choice C reason:

Blood-tinged emesis (vomiting) is not a typical manifestation of Hirschsprung's disease. This symptom is more commonly associated with gastrointestinal bleeding, which can be caused by various factors such as ulcers, esophageal varices, or gastritis.

Choice D reason:

Dysphagia, which refers to difficulty swallowing, is also not a characteristic manifestation of Hirschsprung's disease. Dysphagia is more commonly seen in conditions affecting the esophagus or throat, such as esophageal strictures or neurological disorders affecting swallowing reflexes.