When calculating a 1-minute APGAR, the nurse evaluates the following assessment data: Heart rate 120 BPM: strong cry: well-flexed; reflex-crying: body pink; acrocyanosis present in hands and feet. In view of these findings, the nurse should assign an APGAR score of:

The infant receives 2 points for a heart rate over 100 BPM and 2 points for a strong cry indicating good respiratory effort. Another 2 points are awarded for a well-flexed muscle tone and 2 points for reflex irritability as demonstrated by crying. Finally, 1 point is assigned for color because the body is pink but acrocyanosis is present in the extremities.