Nursing Care of a Family with a High-Risk Newborn

A set of 50 vocabulary flashcards designed to help students understand key terms and concepts from Module 7: Nursing Care of a Family with a High-Risk Newborn.

Preterm infant

An infant born before the end of the 37th week of gestation.

Post term infant

An infant born after the 41st week of gestation.

Low birth weight (LBW)

An infant weighing less than 2500 grams at birth.

Very low birth weight (VLBW)

An infant weighing between 1000 to 1500 grams at birth.

Extremely low birth weight (ELBW)

An infant weighing less than 1000 grams at birth.

Ineffective airway clearance

A nursing diagnosis related to the presence of mucus or amniotic fluid obstructing the airway.

Apnea of Newborn

Irregular respiratory pattern observed in many preterm infants, characterized by pauses lasting more than 20 seconds.

Hyperbilirubinemia

An elevated serum bilirubin level in a newborn, requiring monitoring and intervention.

Acute Bilirubin Encephalopathy

Neurological damage resulting from high levels of unconjugated bilirubin.

Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS)

A condition most common in preterm infants due to low levels of surfactant.

Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC)

A gastrointestinal disease affecting premature infants, characterized by necrotic patches in the bowel.

Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)

An ocular disease leading to blindness, caused by vasoconstriction of retinal blood vessels in prematurity.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Sudden unexplained death in infancy, often associated with sleep position and environmental factors.

Meconium Aspiration Syndrome

A condition where an infant aspirates meconium-stained amniotic fluid at birth, leading to respiratory distress.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs)

A group of conditions resulting from maternal alcohol use during pregnancy.

Anemia of Prematurity

A condition in preterm infants characterized by low levels of red blood cells.

Breast tissue assessment

Evaluation of breast tissue development based on gestational age in infants.

Scarf sign

A clinical sign used to assess neuromuscular maturity in newborns.

Dubowitz Maturity Scale

A gestational rating scale assessing physical and neuromuscular maturity of newborns.

Ballard Assessment

A method for estimating gestational age using physical and neuromuscular criteria.

Thermoregulation

The process of maintaining an optimal body temperature in newborns.

Feed intolerance

Inability of the newborn to adequately digest or absorb fed nutrients.

Parenteral nutrition

Provision of nutrients intravenously, bypassing the gastrointestinal tract.

Prenatal care

Medical care received by a pregnant woman before childbirth.

Gestational age

The age of a fetus or newborn calculated from the last menstrual period.

Small for Gestational Age (SGA)

Infants that weigh below the 10th percentile for their gestational age.

Large for Gestational Age (LGA)

Infants that weigh above the 90th percentile for their gestational age.

Suctioning

Procedure performed to clear airways of mucus or secretions in newborns.

Intracranial hemorrhage

Bleeding within the skull that can occur in preterm infants.

Cranial ultrasound

An imaging technique used to assess brain health in newborns.

Tachypnea

Increased respiratory rate, often seen in distressed newborns.

Bilirubin monitoring

Observation of bilirubin levels in newborns to prevent jaundice.

Vernix caseosa

The white, greasy substance covering the skin of newborns, protecting them in utero.

Lanugo

Fine hair covering the body of preterm infants.

Apgar score

A quick assessment of a newborn's health based on appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, and respiration.

Cardiopulmonary monitoring

Continuous observation of the heart and respiratory function in newborns.

Neurodevelopmental follow-up

Long-term monitoring of infants to identify developmental delays.

Phototherapy

Treatment using light to reduce serum bilirubin levels in jaundiced newborns.

Oxygen saturation

The percentage of hemoglobin that is saturated with oxygen in the blood.

Nutritional support

Assistance in providing adequate nutrition to infants with feeding difficulties.

Caffeine therapy

Use of caffeine to stimulate respiration in preterm infants.

Gentle stimulation

A method to encourage breathing in newborns experiencing apnea.

Aseptic technique

Procedures performed to prevent microbial contamination.

Hypoglycemia

Low blood sugar levels, which can occur in newborns.