A newborn has a respiratory rate of 72 per minute, nasal flaring, and central cyanosis. What is the nurse's priority action?

Correct answer: C. Provide immediate respiratory support and call for urgent help

  • A. Begin oral feeding to improve energy
  • B. Place the newborn supine and reassess later
  • C. Provide immediate respiratory support and call for urgent help
  • D. Wrap the newborn tightly and continue routine observations

Explanation

Tachypnoea, nasal flaring, and central cyanosis show serious respiratory compromise, so breathing is the immediate priority. The nurse should call for urgent help, maintain the airway, provide oxygen or other support according to protocol, and avoid oral feeding until stable.

Submitted by a TestUstad contributor and published by the TestUstad editorial teamLast updated
Report an error

The more specific you are, the faster it gets fixed. A source beats an opinion.

Prefer email? support@testustad.com

About Neonatal Nursing

Neonatal nursing covers the newborn’s transition to extrauterine life, Apgar assessment, thermoregulation, breastfeeding, cord care, routine examination and prevention of infection. It also includes care of premature or low-birth-weight infants, neonatal jaundice, hypoglycaemia, respiratory problems and danger signs requiring urgent referral.

Practise Neonatal Nursing

50 free Neonatal Nursing MCQs from Paediatric Nursing, each with the correct answer and an explanation. Unlimited attempts, no account needed.

Discussion

Stuck on an option, or know a faster way to get there? Ask or explain it here.

No comments yet. Be the first to explain this one.

Exams that ask Paediatric Nursing questions like this

Paediatric Nursing is on 9 papers prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for every one of them.

More Neonatal Nursing questions