The nurse administers vitamin K to the newborn for which of the ...

[Diane]

The nurse administers vitamin K to the newborn for which of the following reasons?
 
  1. Most mothers have a diet deficient in vitamin K, which results in the infant being deficient.
  2. Vitamin K prevents the synthesis of prothrombin in the liver and must be given by injection.
  3. Bacteria that synthesize vitamin K are not present in the newborn's intestinal tract.
  4. The supply of vitamin K is inadequate for at least 3 to 4 months, and the newborn must be supplemented.

Question 2

A new father wants to know what medication was put into his infant's eyes and why it was needed. The nurse explains to the father that the purpose of the erythromycin (Ilotycin) oph-thalmic ointment is to:
 
  1. destroy an infectious exudate caused by Staphylococcus that could make the in-fant blind.
  2. prevent gonorrheal and chlamydial infection of the infant's eyes potentially ac-quired from the birth canal.
  3. prevent potentially harmful exudate from invading the tear ducts of the infant's eyes, leading to dry eyes.
  4. prevent the infant's eyelids from sticking together and help the infant see.

[tkempin]

Answer to Question 1

3
1. Incorrect. Vitamin K is provided because the newborn does not have the intestinal flora to produce this vitamin for the first week. Maternal diet has no bearing on the amount of vi-tamin K found in the newborn.
2. Incorrect. Vitamin K promotes the formation of clotting factors in the liver and is used for the prevention and treatment of hemorrhagic disease in the newborn.
3. Correct. This is an accurate statement.
4. Incorrect. Vitamin K is not produced in the intestinal tract of the newborn until after mi-croorganisms are introduced. By day 8, normal newborns are able to produce their own vita-min K.

Answer to Question 2

2
1. Incorrect. Prophylactic ophthalmic ointment is instilled into the eyes of all neonates to prevent gonorrheal or chlamydial infection.
2. Correct. This is an accurate explanation.
3. Incorrect. Prophylactic ophthalmic ointment is not instilled to prevent dry eyes. It is in-stilled to prevent gonorrheal or chlamydial infection.
4. Incorrect. Prophylactic ophthalmic ointment has no bearing on vision other than to protect against infection that may lead to vision problems.