The nurse is teaching new parents how to dress their newborn. Which statements indicate that teaching has been effective? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply

Question

1. "We should keep our home air-conditioned so the baby doesn't overheat."
2. "It is important that we dry the baby off as soon as we give him a bath or shampoo his hair."
3. "When we change the baby's diaper, we should change any wet clothing or blankets, too."
4. "If the baby's body temperature gets too low, he will warm himself up without any shivering."
5. "Our baby will have a much faster rate of breathing if he is not dressed warmly enough."

Answer 1

2, 3, 4, 5
Explanation: 2. The newborn is particularly prone to heat loss by evaporation immediately after birth and during baths; thus drying the newborn is critical.
3. Changing wet clothing or blankets immediately prevents evaporation, one mechanism of heat loss.
4. Nonshivering thermogenesis (NST), an important mechanism of heat production unique to the newborn, is the major mechanism through which heat is produced.
5. A decrease in the environmental temperature of 2°C is a drop sufficient to double the oxygen consumption of a term newborn and can cause the newborn to show signs of respiratory distress.