The nurse is speaking to students about changes in maternal–newborn care. One change is that self-care has gained wide acceptance with patients, the healthcare community, and third-party payers due to research findings that suggest that it:

Question

1. Shortens newborn length of stay.
2. Decreases use of home health agencies.
3. Reduces healthcare costs.
4. Decreases the number of emergency department visits.

Answer 1

3
Rationale 1: Length of stay is often determined by third-party payer (insurance company) policies as well as physiologic stability of the mother and newborn. Home healthcare agencies often are involved in patient care to decrease hospital stay time.
Rationale 2: Home healthcare agencies often are involved in patient care to decrease hospital stay time.
Rationale 3: Research indicates self-care significantly reduces healthcare costs.
Rationale 4: Acute emergencies are addressed by emergency departments, and are not delayed by those practicing self-care.