A nurse is evaluating a newborn who was delivered quickly at 38 weeks gestation. The newborn is shaky, has a fast heart rate, and high blood pressure.
Which assessment action should the nurse prioritize?

To calculate the rate at which the infusion pump should be set, we need to determine how many mL of the solution contain 2 grams of magnesium sulfate.

Step 1: First, we find out how many grams of magnesium sulfate are in 1 mL of the solution. The IV bag contains 20 grams of magnesium sulfate in 500 mL, so we divide 20 grams by 500 mL to get the amount of magnesium sulfate per mL: 20 grams ÷ 500 mL = 0.04 grams/mL

Step 2: Next, we find out how many mL contain 2 grams of magnesium sulfate.

We divide 2 grams by the amount of magnesium sulfate per mL: 2 grams ÷ 0.04 grams/mL = 50 mL Therefore, the nurse should set the infusion pump to deliver 50 mL per hour.

Choice A rationale

In the context of a fetus weighing an estimated 8 pounds at 36-weeks gestation in a client with gestational diabetes, an amniocentesis would most likely be performed to assess the maturity of the fetal lungs. This is because babies of mothers with gestational diabetes are at risk for

respiratory distress syndrome if delivered early, and the baby’s size may indicate that early delivery could be beneficial.

Choice B rationale

While amniocentesis can be used to detect neural tube defects, these are usually diagnosed earlier in pregnancy. Furthermore, there is no specific link between gestational diabetes, fetal weight, and neural tube defects that would make this the primary reason for performing an amniocentesis in this scenario.

Choice C rationale

Amniocentesis can be used to detect chromosomal abnormalities. However, these are typically screened for earlier in pregnancy and would not be directly related to the mother’s gestational diabetes or the estimated fetal weight.

Choice D rationale

The gender of the fetus can be determined through amniocentesis, but it can also be determined more simply through ultrasound. Therefore, it is unlikely that an amniocentesis would be performed for this purpose, especially considering the mother’s gestational diabetes and the baby’s size.