Newborn Nursing Care Q 41

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A nurse on the newborn nursery floor is caring for a neonate. On assessment the infant is exhibiting signs of cyanosis, tachypnea, nasal flaring, and grunting. Respiratory distress syndrome is diagnosed, and the physician prescribes surfactant replacement therapy. The nurse would prepare to administer this therapy by:

  

     A. Subcutaneous injection

     B. Intravenous injection

     C. Instillation of the preparation into the lungs through an endotracheal tube

     D. Intramuscular injection

    

    

Correct Answer: C. Instillation of the preparation into the lungs through an endotracheal tube.

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Option C: The aim of therapy in RDS is to support the disease until the disease runs its course with the subsequent development of surfactant. The infant may benefit from surfactant replacement therapy. In surfactant replacement, an exogenous surfactant preparation is instilled into the lungs through an endotracheal tube.

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