Four newborns are in the nursery. The nurse would report which assessment finding to the healthcare provider?

Choice A rationale The normal range for meconium passage is generally within the first 24 to 48 hours of life. A 16-hour-old newborn who has not yet passed any meconium is still within the expected time frame and is not an immediate cause for alarm, although documentation is important. However, the nurse should continue to monitor for bowel sounds and abdominal distention. Choice B rationale The normal blood glucose level for a newborn is typically 45 mg/dL or higher. A glucose level of 55 mg/dL for a 16-hour-old newborn is within the acceptable and safe range, indicating adequate metabolic function and requiring only routine monitoring rather than immediate reporting to the healthcare provider. Choice C rationale A respiratory rate of 70 breaths/minute in a 2-day-old newborn (48 hours old) is tachypnea, as the normal range is 30 to 60 breaths/minute. Persistent tachypnea beyond the immediate transitional period, especially when associated with an irregular pattern, is a sign of potential respiratory distress or other underlying pulmonary or cardiac pathology and must be reported immediately. Choice D rationale Excreting a milky discharge (sometimes called "witch's milk") from the nipples in both female and male newborns is a common and benign temporary condition caused by the withdrawal of maternal hormones (estrogen and prolactin) after birth. This is a normal, transient finding and does not require reporting to the healthcare provider.