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NEWBORN ASSESSMENT CHECKLIST -
MATERNAL-NEWBORN NURSING
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What is the nurse's priority action if a term newborn has a heart rate of 170 bpm while resting?
✓ Reassess the heart rate and evaluate for distress.
What is considered a normal respiratory rate for a term newborn?
✓ 52/min.
What is required for a temperature of 96.8°F axillary in a newborn?
✓ Rewarming and reassessment.
What should be done if a term newborn has an oxygen saturation of 91% on room air?
✓ Further assessment and provider notification if persistent.
What does acrocyanosis in the first 24 hours indicate?
✓ Normal peripheral circulation adjustment.
What requires immediate evaluation in a newborn?
✓ Central cyanosis.
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What is a normal blood pressure for a term newborn?
✓ 78/44.
What is the first action for abnormal newborn vital signs?
✓ Assess airway, breathing, circulation.
What does grunting in a newborn indicate?
✓ Respiratory distress.
What does nasal flaring suggest in a newborn?
✓ Increased work of breathing.
What do retractions indicate in a newborn?
✓ Respiratory compromise.
What does seesaw breathing indicate?
✓ Severe respiratory distress.
What should be done if a newborn experiences apnea?
✓ Immediate intervention.
What does belly breathing in a newborn indicate?
✓ Normal finding.
What do newborns rely on for warmth?
✓ Brown fat metabolism.
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What does cold stress increase the risk of?
✓ Hypoglycemia.
What does cold stress increase in terms of oxygen demand?
✓ Respiratory distress.
What may jitteriness in a newborn indicate?
✓ Hypoglycemia.
What does a high-pitched cry suggest in a newborn?
✓ Neurologic or metabolic issue.
What should a lethargic newborn be assessed for?
✓ Hypoglycemia.
What is heat loss from wet skin called?
✓ Evaporation.
What causes radiation heat loss in a newborn?
✓ Placing crib near cold window.
What causes convection heat loss?
✓ Drafts.
What causes conduction heat loss?
✓ Cold scale.
NEWBORN ASSESSMENT CHECKLIST -
MATERNAL-NEWBORN NURSING
-
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
What is the nurse's priority action if a term newborn has a heart rate of 170 bpm while resting?
✓ Reassess the heart rate and evaluate for distress.
What is considered a normal respiratory rate for a term newborn?
✓ 52/min.
What is required for a temperature of 96.8°F axillary in a newborn?
✓ Rewarming and reassessment.
What should be done if a term newborn has an oxygen saturation of 91% on room air?
✓ Further assessment and provider notification if persistent.
What does acrocyanosis in the first 24 hours indicate?
✓ Normal peripheral circulation adjustment.
What requires immediate evaluation in a newborn?
✓ Central cyanosis.
,2|Page
What is a normal blood pressure for a term newborn?
✓ 78/44.
What is the first action for abnormal newborn vital signs?
✓ Assess airway, breathing, circulation.
What does grunting in a newborn indicate?
✓ Respiratory distress.
What does nasal flaring suggest in a newborn?
✓ Increased work of breathing.
What do retractions indicate in a newborn?
✓ Respiratory compromise.
What does seesaw breathing indicate?
✓ Severe respiratory distress.
What should be done if a newborn experiences apnea?
✓ Immediate intervention.
What does belly breathing in a newborn indicate?
✓ Normal finding.
What do newborns rely on for warmth?
✓ Brown fat metabolism.
, 3|Page
What does cold stress increase the risk of?
✓ Hypoglycemia.
What does cold stress increase in terms of oxygen demand?
✓ Respiratory distress.
What may jitteriness in a newborn indicate?
✓ Hypoglycemia.
What does a high-pitched cry suggest in a newborn?
✓ Neurologic or metabolic issue.
What should a lethargic newborn be assessed for?
✓ Hypoglycemia.
What is heat loss from wet skin called?
✓ Evaporation.
What causes radiation heat loss in a newborn?
✓ Placing crib near cold window.
What causes convection heat loss?
✓ Drafts.
What causes conduction heat loss?
✓ Cold scale.
