Complications
Complications ( 5 Questions)
A nurse is assessing a newborn for signs of hypoglycemia.
Which of the following blood glucose levels, taken 1 to 2 hours after birth, would indicate hypoglycemia in the newborn?
40 mg/dL is wrong because this is the lower limit of normal blood glucose level for a newborn.
35 mg/dL is wrong because this is slightly below the normal range but not low enough to be hypoglycemic
30 mg/dL is wrong because this is also below the normal range but not as low as choice D. Normal blood glucose levels for newborns are between 40 and 150 mg/dL, depending on the time of measurement and the feeding status. Blood glucose levels are usually lowest 1 to 2 hours after birth and then gradually increase over the next few days.
20 mg/dL. This is because a blood glucose level below 40 mg/dL is considered hypoglycemia in a newborn. Hypoglycemia can cause neurological damage and other complications in newborns.
The correct answer is choice D. 20 mg/dL. This is because a blood glucose level below 40 mg/dL is considered hypoglycemia in a newborn. Hypoglycemia can cause neurological damage and other complications in newborns.
Choice A. 40 mg/dL is wrong because this is the lower limit of normal blood glucose level for a newborn.
Choice B. 35 mg/dL is wrong because this is slightly below the normal range but not low enough to be hypoglycemic.
Choice C. 30 mg/dL is wrong because this is also below the normal range but not as low as choice D. Normal blood glucose levels for newborns are between 40 and 150 mg/dL, depending on the time of measurement and the feeding status. Blood glucose levels are usually lowest 1 to 2 hours after birth and then gradually increase over the next few days.