A postpartum nurse is conducting a newborn screening for a 36-hour old baby.
The parents inquire about the purpose of this test since the baby is not showing any signs of illness.
What would be the nurse’s best response?
“This is a blood test to determine blood type.”
“This is a diagnostic test that will confirm whether your baby has one of these diseases.”
“This is a routine test to detect who may be at risk for developing one of these diseases.”
“Since you are a carrier for a disease, we will find out if it has been passed down.”
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale:
This response is incorrect because newborn screening tests do not determine blood type. Blood type is typically determined through a separate blood test, such as an ABO and Rh typing test.
While knowing a baby's blood type is important for medical reasons, it's not the primary purpose of newborn screening.
Focusing solely on blood type could mislead parents about the broader scope of conditions that newborn screening aims to identify.
Choice B rationale:
This response is incorrect because newborn screening tests are not diagnostic tests. They are screening tests, which means they identify babies who may be at risk for certain diseases, but they do not confirm whether or not a baby actually has a disease.
Diagnostic tests are typically more specific and are performed after a screening test has indicated a potential problem.
It's crucial to clarify the distinction between screening and diagnosis to avoid causing undue alarm or confusion for parents.
Choice C rationale:
This is the correct response. It accurately explains that newborn screening tests are routine procedures that are performed to detect babies who may be at risk for developing certain diseases.
The emphasis on "risk" is important because it highlights that a positive screening result does not necessarily mean that a baby has a disease, but rather that further testing is needed to confirm the diagnosis.
This response also avoids making assumptions about the parents' carrier status, which is a sensitive topic that should be addressed with care and discretion.
Choice D rationale:
This response is incorrect because it assumes that the parents are carriers for a disease, which may not be the case.
Even if the parents are carriers, newborn screening tests are not designed to specifically determine whether a disease has been passed down from parent to child.
Making such assumptions could create unnecessary anxiety or confusion for parents, and it's important to provide information that is accurate and relevant to their specific situation.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Bishop score: A tool used to assess the readiness of the cervix for labor induction. It evaluates factors such as cervical dilation, effacement, consistency, position, and station of the fetal presenting part.
Score ranges from 0 to 13: A higher score indicates a more favorable cervix for induction.
Score of 6 or less: Induction is less likely to be successful.
Score of 9 or higher: Induction is more likely to be successful.
Nurses understand: The importance of the Bishop score in predicting the likelihood of successful induction.
Nurses use this information: To counsel patients about the risks and benefits of induction, to prepare for induction, and to monitor progress during induction.
Choice B rationale:
Not always done for medical reasons: Induction can also be elective, meaning it is chosen for non-medical reasons, such as convenience or a desire to avoid a post-term pregnancy.
Examples of medical reasons:
Gestational hypertension or preeclampsia
Fetal growth restriction
Prolonged pregnancy
Chorioamnionitis
Oligohydramnios
Choice C rationale:
Trial of labor (TOL): A term used to describe a vaginal birth attempt after a previous cesarean delivery.
Not synonymous with induction of labor: TOL can occur spontaneously or be induced.
Choice D rationale:
Not always electively done at 37 weeks' gestation: The decision to induce labor at 37 weeks is made on a case-by-case basis.
Factors considered:
Maternal and fetal health
Bishop score
Patient preferences
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Trisomy 21, also known as Down syndrome, is a genetic condition caused by the presence of an extra copy of chromosome 21.
The nuchal translucency test (NT) is a non-invasive ultrasound screening test that measures the thickness of the fluid-filled space at the back of a developing baby's neck.
Evidence suggests that fetuses with Down syndrome tend to have increased fluid accumulation in this area, resulting in a larger-than-average nuchal translucency measurement.
Therefore, an increased NT measurement can be a marker for an increased risk of Down syndrome.
It's important to emphasize that the NT test is a screening tool, not a diagnostic test.
This means it can only indicate an increased risk of Down syndrome; it cannot definitively diagnose the condition.
To confirm a diagnosis, further testing, such as chorionic villus sampling (CVS) or amniocentesis, is required.
Choice B rationale:
Neural tube defects (NTDs) are birth defects that affect the brain, spine, or spinal cord.
The most common NTDs are spina bifida and anencephaly.
The NT test is not a diagnostic test for NTDs, although it might detect some cases of open spina bifida.
However, it's not specifically designed for this purpose, and other tests, such as alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) screening or detailed ultrasound, are more reliable for diagnosing NTDs.
Choice C rationale:
The NT test is typically performed in the first trimester of pregnancy, between 11 and 14 weeks gestation.
It's not available in the second trimester because the nuchal translucency measurement becomes less reliable after this point in pregnancy.
Choice D rationale:
A nuchal translucency measurement of 3mm or less is generally considered normal.
Measurements greater than 3mm are associated with an increased risk of Down syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities.
The higher the measurement, the greater the risk.
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