A nurse is caring for an infant who has signs of neonatal abstinence syndrome. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A.
Provide a stimulating environment
B.
Monitor blood glucose level every hour
C.
Initiate seizure precautions
D.
Place the infant on his back with legs extended
The Correct answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is C. Initiate seizure precautions.
Explanation:
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) occurs when an infant is exposed to drugs in utero and experiences withdrawal symptoms after birth. The symptoms can vary but often include tremors, irritability, feeding difficulties, and sometimes seizures. Therefore, initiating seizure precautions is crucial because infants with NAS are at higher risk for seizures due to withdrawal effects.
1. Understanding NAS and Seizure Risk: NAS can result from exposure to various substances, including opioids, benzodiazepines, and other drugs. The withdrawal symptoms typically emerge within the first 72 hours after birth but can sometimes be delayed. Infants may exhibit signs such as jitteriness, high-pitched crying, and convulsions. Seizures are a serious complication that can arise during withdrawal and require vigilant monitoring. Initiating seizure precautions helps in early detection and management of potential seizures, ensuring timely intervention if seizures occur.
2. Seizure Precautions: Seizure precautions involve several practices to minimize the risk of injury during a seizure and to ensure rapid response if one occurs. This includes keeping the infant’s environment free of sharp objects, padding the crib sides, and ensuring that the caregiver is aware of the signs of a seizure and the steps to take if one happens. Continuous monitoring of the infant’s neurological status and behavior is also essential. This proactive approach ensures that any seizure activity is quickly identified and addressed, which is critical for the infant’s safety and well-being.
3. Other Options Reviewed:
- A. Provide a stimulating environment: This is not recommended for infants with NAS. A stimulating environment can exacerbate symptoms such as irritability and poor sleep. Instead, a calm and quiet environment is preferred to help soothe the infant.
- B. Monitor blood glucose level every hour: While monitoring blood glucose is important in some neonatal conditions, it is not specifically targeted at managing NAS. Blood glucose monitoring is more critical in infants at risk for hypoglycemia or those with metabolic disorders.
- D. Place the infant on his back with legs extended: Although placing an infant on their back is the recommended sleep position to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), extending the legs is not a standard practice for managing NAS. Instead, positioning should focus on comfort and safety.
In summary, initiating seizure precautions is essential in the care of an infant with NAS due to the increased risk of seizures and the need for preventive measures to ensure the infant’s safety and appropriate management of withdrawal symptoms.