Newborns are one of the most curious and interesting humans you could ever encounter. They continue to become everyone’s joy wherever they go. As their healthcare provider, we are the ones who handled them primarily the moment they were delivered, so it is up to us to give the best primary care to these little angels before we hand them over to their parents. Show
Assessment for Well-BeingAssessment of the newborn immediately starts the moment he or she is delivered, and there are a lot of standard assessments used to evaluate them rapidly. Apgar ScoringThe Apgar scoring is done during the first 1 minute and 5 minutes of life. The heart rate, respiratory rate, muscle tone, reflex irritability, and color are evaluated in an infant. Apgar score is the baseline for all future observations.
Apgar scoring
Respiratory Evaluation
Physical Examination
Care of the Newborn at Birth
Care of the Newborn in the Postpartum Period
Practice Quiz: Care of the NewbornQuestions 1. What is the highest priority in the newborn assessment? A. Reflex irritability 2. A newborn has an Apgar score of 6. What would be the intervention? A. Nothing should be done;
this is a normal score. 3. Why is it important to assess the newborn’s height and weight? A. To check if the newborn is adapting well to extrauterine life. 4. Why is newborn identification and registration essential? A. So the parents can immediately see the baby. 5. When is an appropriate time to bathe the newborn? A. Immediately after birth Answers and Rationale 1. Answer: B. Breathing
2. Answer: D. Newborn’s airway needs to be cleared.
3. Answer: D. B and C
4. Answer: B. To avoid switching of babies or kidnapping.
5. Answer: C. Before feeding the newborn
The care of the newborn starts at the hand of their healthcare providers and must be transitioned properly to their parents for continuity of care. An appropriate education for the parents and immediate family members regarding the dos and don’ts for newborn care should be included in the discharge plan so that when the newborn is already safe at home, there is a guarantee that they are well-cared for by their family members. What is the nurse's priority intervention in caring for a newly delivered newborn?With every newborn contact, respiratory evaluation is necessary because this is the highest priority in newborn care.
What important assessments must you perform on the new baby?After birth, newborn babies are carefully checked for problems or complications.. Posture.. How far the hands can be flexed toward the wrist.. How far the arms spring back to a flexed position.. How far the knees extend.. How far the elbows can be moved across the chest.. How close the feet can be moved to the ears.. What is the priority care of newborn immediately after birth?Immediate care involves: Drying the baby with warm towels or cloths, while being placed on the mother's abdomen or in her arms. This mother-child skin-to-skin contact is important to maintain the baby's temperature, encourage bonding and expose the baby to the mother's skin bacteria.
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