Cristina Tolentino
NORMAL NEWBORN CASE STUDY
SCENARIO
Baby H. was just born in a hospital that provides single room maternity care (SRMC),
which allows the infant to remain with the parents after birth. H.’s mother was in
labor for 12 hours and gave birth vaginally. Baby H. is the first baby born to these
parents. The nurse will complete the physical assessment and observe for
physiologic changes in the infant’s transition from intrauterine to extrauterine life.
1. How long do the three phases that occur during this transition period typically
last?
First phase: period of reactivity, begins with birth and last about 30
mins, infant is awake, active, alert, energetical move arms and legs.
Best time for breast feeding and skin to skin contact.
Period of Sleep or Decrease activity: infant become quiet, and
falls into deep sleep last about 60-100 mins
Second Period: last about 4-6 hours alert and interested in
feeding
2. What care would be specific to the first period of reactivity?
The Apagr score would be done, suction of secretions, breast
feeding, and skin to skin contact.
3. Identify eight assessments or tasks that the nurse needs to do during the
transitional care period.
1. Check vital signs. 2. Bowel sounds 3. Lung sounds 4. Vitamin k
5. Onement on the eyes 6. Apgar score 7. Heart sounds 8. Skin to skin
with mom
4. You are preparing to give the injection of vitamin K (AquaMephyton). The order is
to give 0.5 mg subcutaneously on arrival in the nursery. The medication comes in a
solution of 1 mg/0.5 mL. Calculate how much medication you will draw up into the
syringe.
Answer: 0.25 mL
5. Erythromycin ointment is instilled in both eyes to prevent which of these
infections?
a. Chlamydia
b. Herpes simplex virus infection
c. Gonorrhea
d. Human papillomavirus infection
Answer: C
6. Once the transitional care and documentation are completed, the infant might be
transferred to the normal newborn nursery if the hospital does not use SRMC. The
newborn nursery nurse is responsible for what ongoing care of the newborn infant?
