RNC-LRN flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Apgar heart rate scoring

Heart rate >100 bpm scores 2, <100 bpm scores 1, and absent heart rate scores 0 on the Apgar score.

Normal newborn vital signs

Typical term newborn values are heart rate 110-160 bpm, respiratory rate 30-60/min, and axillary temperature 36.5-37.5 C.

First period of reactivity

Lasts about 30 minutes after birth and includes alertness, sucking, and brief tachypnea, followed by a sleep phase.

Expected newborn weight loss

Term newborns may lose 7-10% of birth weight by days 3-5 and usually regain it by 10-14 days.

Ductus arteriosus closure

Functional closure occurs within 24-72 hours after birth; permanent anatomic closure takes weeks. Prostaglandins keep it open before birth.

GDM neonatal effects

Infants of diabetic mothers risk macrosomia, shoulder dystocia, hypoglycemia, polycythemia, and respiratory distress syndrome.

Chorioamnionitis newborn risk

Maternal fever, uterine tenderness, or foul fluid suggests chorioamnionitis and increases neonatal sepsis risk, prompting evaluation and antibiotics.

Late decelerations meaning

Late decelerations are repetitive slowing after contractions and suggest uteroplacental insufficiency and fetal hypoxemia.

GBS intrapartum prophylaxis

Penicillin is given in labor for group B streptococcus colonization; prolonged rupture of membranes over 18 hours increases newborn sepsis risk.

Heat loss mechanisms

Newborns lose heat by evaporation, conduction, convection, and radiation; a neutral thermal environment reduces oxygen consumption.

Vitamin K at birth

Give 0.5-1 mg vitamin K intramuscularly once after birth to prevent hemorrhagic disease of the newborn.

Newborn metabolic screening

Collect after 24 hours of age and before discharge; repeat if collected before 24 hours or according to state protocol.

Erythromycin eye prophylaxis

0.5% erythromycin ophthalmic ointment is applied to both eyes once after birth to prevent gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum.

Safe sleep for newborns

Place infants supine on a firm surface without soft bedding; room-sharing is recommended, but bed-sharing is not.

Newborn stomach capacity

Day 1 capacity is about 5-10 mL, increasing to 45-60 mL by week 1; small frequent feeds match capacity.

Feeding cues

Rooting, hand-to-mouth movements, and sucking are early hunger cues; crying is a late cue.

Breastfed infant vitamin D

Exclusively breastfed infants need 400 IU vitamin D daily; formula-fed infants need it if intake is under 1 liter daily.

Breast milk storage guidelines

Fresh breast milk keeps about 4 hours at room temperature, 4 days in the refrigerator, and 6 months in a freezer.

Paced bottle feeding

Hold the infant semi-upright, keep the nipple horizontal, and pause feeds to follow cues and prevent overfeeding.

Pathologic jaundice timing

Jaundice appearing within the first 24 hours is pathologic and requires prompt bilirubin measurement and evaluation for hemolysis or infection.

Breastfeeding jaundice cause

Insufficient intake in the first week leads to increased enterohepatic bilirubin circulation; frequent effective feeding lowers bilirubin.

Hypoglycemia signs newborn

Jitteriness, lethargy, poor feeding, apnea, and seizures can indicate hypoglycemia; confirm with blood glucose and treat per protocol.

Respiratory distress signs

Tachypnea over 60/min, grunting, nasal flaring, retractions, and cyanosis indicate respiratory distress requiring immediate assessment.

Bilious emesis newborn

Green or bilious vomiting in a newborn is a red flag for intestinal obstruction and requires urgent surgical evaluation.

Discharge follow-up timing

Term newborns should be seen by a clinician 48-72 hours after discharge, sooner if jaundice, weight loss, or feeding problems exist.

Teach-back method

Ask the family to explain or demonstrate care in their own words to confirm understanding before discharge.

Car seat safety newborn

Use a rear-facing car seat with a snug five-point harness; preterm infants may need a car seat challenge before discharge.

Rooming-in benefits

Keeping the newborn with the mother supports breastfeeding, cue-based feeding, bonding, and maternal confidence.

SBAR handoff

Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation structure a concise, safe clinical handoff and reduce omissions during transitions of care.

Two patient identifiers

Verify identity using two identifiers, such as name and date of birth, before medications, procedures, or blood transfusion.

PDSA quality cycle

Plan-Do-Study-Act is a rapid-cycle improvement method used to test and refine changes in clinical practice.

Just culture principle

Just culture separates human error from reckless behavior, encouraging error reporting while maintaining accountability for unsafe choices.