Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the teaching to the parents of a newborn about the critical congenital heart disease screening?

Choice A reason: Critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) screening uses pulse oximetry, not a heel blood sample. Blood sampling is for metabolic screening, not heart defects. Pulse oximetry measures oxygen saturation non-invasively, detecting shunting or cyanotic defects, aligning with CCHD screening’s focus on circulatory assessment. Choice B reason: CCHD screening is typically performed at 24-48 hours of age, not 6-12 hours, to ensure stable postnatal circulation. Early testing may yield false positives due to transitional physiology. Pulse oximetry at the correct timing accurately detects critical heart defects, per neonatal screening protocols. Choice C reason: CCHD screening compares oxygen saturation in the upper (right hand) and lower (foot) extremities using pulse oximetry to detect congenital heart defects causing differential cyanosis. A significant difference indicates potential shunting or ductal-dependent lesions, requiring further evaluation, aligning with the physiological basis of CCHD screening. Choice D reason: CCHD screening results are immediate via pulse oximetry, not delayed 1-2 weeks. Real-time oxygen saturation readings identify potential heart defects, enabling prompt referral for echocardiography. Delayed results apply to metabolic screening, not CCHD, which relies on instant physiological data, per neonatal diagnostic protocols.