Fontanelles
Fontanelles ( 5 Questions)
A nurse is examining a newborn’s head and observes a diffuse edema over the scalp that crosses the suture lines.
The nurse recognizes this as a caput succedaneum.
What should the nurse do next?
There is no need to notify the physician immediately. Caput succedaneum is not a medical emergency and does not require any intervention.
Document the finding and monitor for resolution. Caput succedaneum is a harmless condition that causes swelling of the scalp due to pressure during delivery. It does not indicate any damage to the brain or the skull and usually resolves on its own within a few days.
Applying ice packs to reduce swelling is not recommended. Ice packs can cause skin irritation, infection, or hypothermia in newborns.
Performing a neurological assessment is not necessary. Caput succedaneum does not affect the brain or the nervous system and does not cause any neurological symptoms.
Document the finding and monitor for resolution. Caput succedaneum is a harmless condition that causes swelling of the scalp due to pressure during delivery. It does not indicate any damage to the brain or the skull and usually resolves on its own within a few days.
Therefore, the nurse should document the finding and monitor for resolution.
Choice A is wrong because there is no need to notify the physician immediately. Caput succedaneum is not a medical emergency and does not require any intervention.
Choice C is wrong because applying ice packs to reduce swelling is not recommended. Ice packs can cause skin irritation, infection, or hypothermia in newborns.
Choice D is wrong because performing a neurological assessment is not necessary. Caput succedaneum does not affect the brain or the nervous system and does not cause any neurological symptoms.