The newborn is admitted to the nursery. Which injection should the nurse plan to administer? ? A. AquaMEPHYTON (vitamin K) ? B. Amikacin (Amikin) ? C. Amiodarone (Cordarone) ? D. Amoxicillin (Amoxil)

Short Answer

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Answer: AquaMEPHYTON (Vitamin K)

Step by step solution

01

Evaluate Option A - AquaMEPHYTON (vitamin K)

AquaMEPHYTON is a brand name for Vitamin K1 (phytonadione), which is essential for blood clotting. Newborn babies often receive a vitamin K injection shortly after birth to prevent vitamin K deficiency bleeding, a rare but life-threatening condition. This is a plausible answer, but let's examine the other options before deciding.
02

Evaluate Option B - Amikacin (Amikin)

Amikacin (Amikin) is an aminoglycoside antibiotic that's usually used for treating severe bacterial infections. This may not be a suitable routine injection for a newborn, as it's not typically given unless there is a specific indication of infection. So, discard this option.
03

Evaluate Option C - Amiodarone (Cordarone)

Amiodarone (Cordarone) is an antiarrhythmic medication, which means it adjusts the heart rate and helps in avoiding irregular heartbeats. This medication is not typically administered to newborns routinely and is generally reserved for specific cardiac conditions. Therefore, this option can be discarded.
04

Evaluate Option D - Amoxicillin (Amoxil)

Amoxicillin (Amoxil) is a penicillin antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections. Like option B (Amikacin), this drug is not administered to newborns regularly, but rather when there is an indication of infection. Thus, we can discard this option.
05

Choose the Correct Answer

After examining all the options, it is clear that Option A - AquaMEPHYTON (Vitamin K) is the appropriate injection for a newborn in a nursery. Vitamin K injections are commonly administered to newborns to prevent vitamin K deficiency bleeding. All the other options are medicines for specific conditions and are not administered to newborns routinely.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

AquaMEPHYTON (vitamin K)
Newborns are at risk for vitamin K deficiency due to low levels of this vitamin in their bodies. AquaMEPHYTON, the brand name for vitamin K1 or phylloquinone, is given to newborns as an injection to mitigate this risk. Vitamin K plays a pivotal role in the process of blood clotting, and since babies do not have enough of this critical vitamin at birth, they may be prone to vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB). To prevent VKDB, which can have serious or even fatal outcomes, the injection of vitamin K is standard practice soon after delivery. This simple prophylactic measure helps ensure the baby's body can properly manage any bleeding instances.

It's also interesting to note that vitamin K does not cross the placenta effectively during pregnancy and is also not present in sufficient amounts in breast milk. Consequently, it's not just premature babies who need this essential supplement, but almost all newborns. The injection is intramuscular, typically given in the thigh, ensuring that the baby has an adequate level of vitamin K until they can synthesize it naturally.
Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding
Vitamin K deficiency bleeding, once called hemorrhagic disease of the newborn, is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition that can cause uncontrolled bleeding. It can happen because of the vitamin K deficiency babies are born with, as their intestine has not yet developed the bacteria that synthesize this vitamin. VKDB normally shows up in the first week of life, although late-onset VKDB can occur weeks or even months later, particularly in breastfed infants who did not receive vitamin K at birth.

The bleeding can occur in various places, including in the brain, leading to significant neurological damage or death. Symptoms of VKDB may include bruising, bleeding from the nose or umbilicus, pale or yellow skin, and stool with blood. Preventive measures, such as AquaMEPHYTON, are thus crucial to combat the risks associated with this deficiency. It's successful in preventing both early and late forms of VKDB, rendering it a pivotal part of neonatal care.
Neonatal Care
Proper neonatal care is essential for the health and development of newborn infants. When a baby is born, they transition from a protected environment where everything is provided via the placenta to an independent one where they must breathe, eat, and process waste on their own. This period involves critical adaptations, and neonatal care plays a key role in ensuring these processes happen safely.

Neonatal care includes a range of practices, assessments, and interventions. Right after birth, evaluations such as the Apgar score assess the newborn's health, while interventions like the administration of AquaMEPHYTON are implemented to prevent conditions like VKDB. This aspect of neonatal care is just one example of how healthcare professionals anticipate and prevent health challenges in newborns, setting them on a track for healthy development.Ensuring a sterile environment, monitoring vital signs, and providing education for the parents on how to care for their baby are other components of neonatal care. Each step, from feeding assistance to infection control, is critical in protecting these vulnerable new lives during their first days and weeks.

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