A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a newborn who has a temperature of 36.4° C (97.5° F) at 1 hr after birth. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include?
Explanation & Rationale
Rationale: A. Dress the newborn in a warm gown when placing them next to the parent's skin: Skin-to-skin contact, not clothing layers, is the priority for thermoregulation in the first hours after birth. A warm gown may interfere with skin contact and reduce the effectiveness of heat transfer from parent to newborn. B. Delay the newborn's feedings until their temperature is stabilized: Early feeding is encouraged for newborns to promote bonding, glucose stabilization, and warmth. Feeding should not be delayed, as it can help the baby generate heat through metabolism. C. Postpone the newborn's initial bath: A newborn’s bath should be delayed until their temperature is stable to prevent further heat loss. Bathing can cause evaporation-related cooling, which may worsen mild hypothermia in a newborn during the early hours of life. D. Place the swaddled newborn under a radiant warmer: Swaddling under a radiant warmer interferes with direct heat transfer. The newborn should be unclothed (except for a diaper) under the warmer to ensure effective warming through radiation.