A nurse is caring for a newborn who has an Apgar score of 8 at one minute after birth and an Apgar score of 10 at five minutes after birth.
Which statement best describes this newborn’s condition?
The newborn had a difficult transition at birth but recovered quickly.
The newborn was in good condition at birth and improved further.
The newborn had some problems at birth but is now in excellent condition.
The newborn was in excellent condition at birth but deteriorated slightly.
The Correct Answer is C
The newborn had some problems at birth but is now in excellent condition.
The Apgar score is a method of assessing the health of a newborn on a scale of 0 to 10 based on five criteria: appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, and respiration.
A score of 7 to 10 indicates that the newborn is in good condition and does not need any special care.
A score of 4 to 6 indicates that the newborn has some problems and may need some assistance.
A score of 0 to 3 indicates that the newborn is in serious trouble and needs immediate medical attention.
Choice A is wrong because a score of 8 at one minute after birth does not indicate a difficult transition.
It means that the newborn had only minor problems and was in good condition.
Choice B is wrong because a score of 10 at five minutes after birth does not indicate an improvement from a score of 8.
It means that the newborn had no problems and was in excellent condition.
Choice D is wrong because a score of 10 at five minutes after birth does not indicate a deterioration from a score of 8.
It means that the newborn had no problems and was in excellent condition.
Normal ranges for the Apgar score are:
• At one minute after birth: 7 to 10
• At five minutes after birth: 8 to 10
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Bulging fontanelles.Bulging fontanelles can be a sign of increased intracranial pressure or intracranial and extracranial tumors.This is a potential problem for the newborn’s brain and health and should be evaluated by imaging studies.
Choice A is wrong because sunken fontanelles are usually a sign of dehydration, which is not a problem with the fontanelles themselves, but with the fluid balance of the newborn.
Choice C is wrong because a diamond-shaped anterior fontanelle is normal for a newborn.The anterior fontanelle is the largest and most important for clinical evaluation.It has an average size of 2.1 cm and a median time of closure of 13.8 months.
Choice D is wrong because a triangular posterior fontanelle is also normal for a newborn.The posterior fontanelle is smaller than the anterior one and normally closes by 8 weeks.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Flexion in different positions.The New Ballard Scale is a scale that estimates the gestational age of a newborn infant based on physical and neuromuscular characteristics.Flexion in different positions is one of the six neuromuscular signs that are assessed using the scale.The other neuromuscular signs are square window, arm recoil, popliteal angle, scarf sign, and heel to ear.
The other statements are wrong because:
Skin thickness and presence of lanugo are physical signs, not neuromuscular signs.They are also assessed using the New Ballard Scale, along with plantar surface, breast, eye/ear, and genitals.
Creases on the bottom of feet are part of the plantar surface assessment, which is a physical sign, not a neuromuscular sign.
Scrotum development is part of the genital assessment, which is a physical sign, not a neuromuscular sign.
The New Ballard Scale can be used up to 4 days after birth, but usually within the first 24 hours.The scale is accurate only within plus or minus 2 weeks.The total score determines the gestational maturity in weeks.
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