A nurse in the transition nursery is assigned to care for four recently delivered infants. Which infant should the nurse assess first? Reference Range: Blood glucose/neonate [30 to 60 mg/dL (1.7 to 3.3 mmol/L)]

Rationale: A. A full-term infant who has a 98.2° F (36.8° C) axillary temperature and needs a bath: A temperature within the normal neonatal range is not concerning, and the bath can be safely delayed. This infant is stable and does not require immediate assessment. B. An infant with tachypnea, tachycardia, and a meconium stained cord: Respiratory distress in the presence of meconium raises concern for meconium aspiration syndrome, which can rapidly compromise oxygenation. This infant is at the greatest risk for airway obstruction and requires prompt assessment and intervention. C. A 38-week gestation infant whose mother wants to breastfeed now: A term infant initiating breastfeeding is expected and appropriate, and while feeding support is important, there are no urgent physiologic concerns requiring immediate assessment in this situation. D. Infant of a diabetic mother who has a blood glucose level of 60 mg/dL (3.3 mmol/L): A blood glucose level of 60 mg/dL is within the acceptable neonatal range of 30–60 mg/dL. Although infants of diabetic mothers require close glucose monitoring, this value is stable and does not require urgent intervention at this time.