A nurse places a newborn under a radiant heat warmer after birth. The purpose of this action is to prevent which of the following in the newborn?
A.
Basal metabolic rate reduction.
B.
Brown fat production.
C.
Shivering.
D.
Cold stress.
The purpose of placing a newborn under a radiant heat warmer after birth is to prevent:
D. Cold stress.
Explanation:
- Cold stress occurs when a newborn’s body is exposed to low temperatures, which can lead to hypothermia. Radiant heat warmers help maintain the newborn’s body temperature by providing a controlled source of warmth, thereby preventing cold stress.
A. Basal metabolic rate reduction: While cold stress can increase basal metabolic rate as the body works to generate heat, the primary goal of using a radiant heat warmer is to prevent cold stress, not directly to manage metabolic rate.
B. Brown fat production: Radiant heat warmers do not affect brown fat production directly. Brown fat is important for thermogenesis (heat production), but the focus here is on preventing immediate cold stress.
C. Shivering: Newborns typically do not shiver as a response to cold. Instead, they rely on brown fat metabolism to generate heat. Radiant heat warmers help prevent the need for such metabolic responses by maintaining a stable temperature.
Thus, the correct answer is D. Cold stress, as the primary reason for using a radiant heat warmer is to ensure the newborn maintains a normal body temperature and avoid cold stress.