A nurse is preparing to gavage feed a preterm infant who is receiving IV antibiotics.

The infant expels a bloody stool.

What nursing action should the nurse implement?

The newborn’s skin color is pink.This indicates that the phototherapy is effective in lowering the serum bilirubin level by transforming it into water-soluble isomers that can be eliminated without liver conjugation.

A pink skin color also means that the newborn is not jaundiced, which is a sign of high bilirubin levels.

Choice B is wrong because clay-colored stools indicate a problem with the liver or bile ducts.Bile is needed to give stools their normal brown color, and if bile is absent or blocked, the stools may become pale or clay-colored.This could be a sign of a serious condition such as biliary atresia, which is a congenital defect that causes bile ducts to be absent or malformed.

Choice C is wrong because a bilirubin level of 12 mg/dL is still high for a newborn and may require further treatment.The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends phototherapy for newborns with bilirubin levels above 15 mg/dL at 25 to 48 hours of age, 18 mg/dL at 49 to 72 hours of age, and 20 mg/dL at more than 72 hours of age.However, these thresholds may vary depending on the gestational age, risk factors, and clinical condition of the newborn.

Choice D is wrong because dark yellow urine may indicate dehydration or concentrated urine, which can increase the risk of bilirubin toxicity.Newborns receiving phototherapy should be well hydrated and have frequent wet diapers to help eliminate bilirubin from the body.Normal urine color for a newborn is pale yellow or clear.

Exchange transfusion (ET) is a procedure that involves removing the infant’s blood and replacing it with compatible donor blood to reduce the level of bilirubin and/or antibody-coated red blood cells.It is a high-risk intervention that can cause serious complications such as vascular accidents, cardiovascular compromise, and electrolyte and hematologic derangement.

Therefore, it is essential to obtain informed consent from the parent before performing ET.

Choice B is wrong because checking the newborn’s blood type and crossmatch is not the first action the nurse should take.

Although it is important to ensure compatibility between the donor and recipient blood, it is not as urgent as obtaining informed consent.

Choice C is wrong because inserting two umbilical catheters for blood withdrawal and infusion is not the first action the nurse should take.

Although it is necessary to establish vascular access for ET, it is not as crucial as obtaining informed consent.

Choice D is wrong because monitoring the newborn’s vital signs and oxygen saturation is not the first action the nurse should take.

Although it is vital to assess the newborn’s condition before, during, and after ET, it is not as imperative as obtaining informed consent.

Normal ranges for bilirubin levels vary depending on the gestational age and postnatal age of the newborn.The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has published nomograms for initiating phototherapy and ET based on these factors.According to the AAP, ET should be considered when the bilirubin level exceeds 25 mg/dL (428 μmol/L) in term infants or 20 mg/dL (342 μmol/L) in preterm infants with risk factors for neurotoxicity.