While the nurse assesses a newborn of African American descent, the mother points out a blue-black Mongolian spot on the newborn's back and asks, "What's that? Is something wrong with my baby?" Which response by the nurse is best?
a. "I'll ask the physician to look at the spot."
b. "Those spots are quite common and typically fade with time."
c. "You may want a plastic surgeon to look at that."
d. "That spot is benign so it's nothing you need to worry about."
B
The best response by the nurse is to explain that Mongolian spots are common in dark-skinned newborns and typically fade over time. The nurse should report the finding in the patient health record, but there is no need to notify the physician immediately. It is inappropriate for the nurse to recommend that the mother take her newborn to a plastic surgeon; Mongolian spots do not require treatment. Although it contains correct information, ". . . nothing you need to worry about" is condescending.
You might also like to view...
In caring for the preterm newborn, which one of the following complications would the nurse identify as resulting from the growth of abnormal blood vessels?
A) Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) C) Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) B) Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) D) Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH)
The nurse is assessing a school-age child with asthma. Which assessment finding indicates that this patient's asthma is well controlled?
A) Dry mucous membranes B) Presence of a dry hacking cough C) Peak flow meter reading in the green zone D) Audible wheezes present over upper lobes
A 6-year-old is seen in a mental health clinic for possible hyperactivity. His mother reports that he is just "all boy." He has always been active and does not like to sit still for more than a minute
Which of the following data would be most important to assess to help evaluate his behavior? A) Whether he was breastfed or bottle-fed as an infant B) Family medical history for circulatory illnesses C) A review of the boy's typical day D) Medical history for communicable diseases
What is the current belief about the relationship of the use of combination oral contraceptives and the development of thromboembolism?
a. There is little, if any, relationship between them. b. There is an increased risk of thromboembolic disease in users of these oral contraceptives. c. Only an easily identified group of oral contraceptive users are at risk of thromboembolic disease. d. No one knows if there is a relationship between them.