The nurse is preparing a 4-day-old infant with a serum bilirubin level of 19 mg/dL (325 µmol/L) for discharge from the hospital. When teaching the parents about home phototherapy, which instruction should the nurse include in the discharge teaching plan?Reference RangeTotal Bilirubin [Reference Range: Newborn: 0.1 to 10.5 mg/dL (1.7 to 180 µmol/L)]
Explanation & Rationale
Choice C is correct because repositioning the infant every 2 hours can help expose different parts of the skin to the phototherapy light and increase the effectiveness of the treatment. The nurse should also check the skin for signs of irritation or burns.Choice A is incorrect because feeding the infant every 4 hours is not specific to home phototherapy. The infant may need more frequent feedings depending on their hunger cues and weight gain.Choice B is incorrect because performing diaper changes under the light is not necessary and may expose the infant's genitals to excessive light and heat. The nurse should advise the parents to cover the infant's eyes and genitals with protective shields during phototherapy.Choice D is incorrect because covering the infant with a receiving blanket can reduce the exposure of the skin to the phototherapy light and decrease the effectiveness of the treatment. The nurse should advise the parents to keep the infant unclothed or only in a diaper during phototherapy.