FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
NU 404: Unit 8 Study Guide with
Complete Solutions
Preterm infants - Ans:✔✔-vast majority of high risk infants are those born less than 37 weeks gestation
High risk - Ans:✔✔-_ __ infants are most often classified according to birth weight, gestational age, and
predominant pathophysiologic problems
Preterm - Ans:✔✔--birth before completion of 37th week
-_ infant is likely to have difficulty adjusting to extrauterine life
-s/s of resp distress (GFR) or apnea and be ready to intervene by providing adequate oxygenation
Apnea - Ans:✔✔-breathing pauses greater than 20 seconds
Term - Ans:✔✔-birth occurring b/t 38 & 42 weeks
Post-term - Ans:✔✔-birth after 42nd week
Cyanosis - Ans:✔✔--acro_: normal finding in the neonate
-central _: indicates an underlying problem that requires immediate evaluation
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40-60 - Ans:✔✔-normal respirations in the newborn per min
Periodic breathing - Ans:✔✔--common
-5-10 second resp pauses followed by 10-15 secs of compensatory rapid resp
Respiratory problems - Ans:✔✔--cyanosis
-pallor
-hypotonia
-bradycardia
Cardio function - Ans:✔✔--nurse must be prepared to intervene if symptoms of hypovolemia, shock, or
both are found
-s/s: hypotension, slow cap refill (>3 secs), and continued resp distress despite being oxygenated and
ventilated
Maintain body temp - Ans:✔✔--goal: want to _ a neutral thermal environment
-preterm infants susceptible to ___ instability r/t large body surface in relation to their weight and risk
for heat loss
-hypothermia vs hyperthermia
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FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
Hypothermia - Ans:✔✔-apnea, bradycardia, central cyanosis, coagulation defects, hypoglycemia,
hypotonia, hypoxia, feeding intolerance, inc metabolic rate, irritability, lethargy, metabolic acidosis,
peripheral vasoconstriction, poor weight gain, shivering, weak cry or suck
Hyperthermia - Ans:✔✔-apnea, CNS depression, dehydration, flushed/red skin, hypernatremia,
irritability, lethargy, poor feeding, seizures, sweating, tachycardia, tachypnea, warm to touch, weak or
absent cry
Cold stress - Ans:✔✔--maintain body temp
-preterm infants have few reserves r/t less calories and fat stores which puts them at risk for this
Hypothermia care - Ans:✔✔-rewarm immediately, but not rapidly bc it can cause apnea and acidosis
BMR - Ans:✔✔-the LBW infant may be unable to inc their _ due to:
-impaired gas exchange
-caloric restriction
-poor thermoregulation
-infant demonstrating signs of cold stress should also be assessed for infection bc of similar symptoms
Temp maintenance - Ans:✔✔--radiant warmer
-kangaroo care
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FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
-axillary is preferred route
-in cold stressed baby this route may cause false high reading
-in severely premature infant this route is ok and rectal route is contraindicated
Kangaroo care - Ans:✔✔--helps premature infants directly interact with their parents
-maintains thermal stability, oxygen saturation, and helps reduce dec stress in preterm infants
-also dec pain perception during painful heel sticks
Supportive measures - Ans:✔✔--total parenteral nutrition for infant who can't tolerate gavage feedings
-position infant so as to facilitate respiration and suction PRN
-neutral thermal environment must be maintained
-group activities to preserve oxygen stores
-gavage feedings if resp distress is severe
Criteria for O2 use - Ans:✔✔--inc respiratory effort
-resp distress with apnea
-tachycardia
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