During the nursing assessment of a baby with hypospadias, the nurse should prioritize which of the following assessments?

A. Inspecting the baby’s genitalia and urethral opening is the priority assessment in hypospadias. Hypospadias is a congenital condition in which the urethral opening is located on the ventral (underside) surface of the penis rather than at the tip. Accurate inspection is essential for confirming the diagnosis, determining severity, and guiding surgical planning. It is also important for educating parents about delaying circumcision, since foreskin tissue may be needed for repair. B. Checking the baby’s respiratory rate is a routine newborn assessment, but it is not specific to hypospadias and is not the priority focus when this condition is suspected. C. Measuring head circumference is important in general newborn care to track growth and neurological development but is unrelated to hypospadias. D. Assessing the baby’s ability to breastfeed is essential in overall newborn health, but it does not address the condition of hypospadias.