Which statement best describes the characteristics of preterm ...

[ssal]

Which statement best describes the characteristics of preterm infants?
 
  a. Thermoregulation is well established.
  b. Extremities remain in attitude of flexion.
  c. Sucking reflex is absent, weak, or ineffectual.
  d. The head is proportionately small in relation to the body.

Question 2

The nurse is planning care for a family expecting their newborn infant to die because of an incurable birth defect. What should the nurse's interventions be based on?
 
  a. Tangible remembrances of the infant (e.g., lock of hair, picture) prolong grief.
  b. Photographs of infants should not be taken after death.
  c. Funerals are not recommended because the mother is still recovering from childbirth.
  d. The parents should be given the opportunity to parent the infant, including seeing, holding, touching, or talking to the infant in private.

[kbennett34]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
Reflex activity is only partially developed. Sucking is absent, weak, or ineffectual. Thermoregulation is poorly developed, and a preterm infant needs to be in a neutral thermal environment. A preterm infant may be listless and inactive compared with the overall attitude of flexion and activity of a full-term infant. A preterm infant's head is proportionately larger than the body.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: D
Providing care for the neonate is an important step in the grieving process. It gives the parents a tangible person for whom to grieve, which is a key component of the grieving process. Tangible remembrances and photographs can make the infant seem more real to the parents. Many neonatal intensive care units make bereavement memory packets, which may include a lock of hair, handprints, footprints, a bedside name card, and other individualized objects. Families need to be informed of their options. The ritual of a funeral provides an opportunity for the parents to be supported by relatives and friends.