Editing Maternal and Newborn Nursing – LPN Practice Questions (section)

==Question 11==
An LPN reviews the record of a newborn who is 28 hours old and notes that the infant has not yet had a wet diaper since birth. Which action is most appropriate?
# Report the finding to the registered nurse.
# Document it as an expected newborn finding.
# Offer the newborn sterile water between feedings.
# Apply a warm compress over the bladder to stimulate voiding.

'''Answer:''' 1 (A). Report the finding to the registered nurse.

''Rationale:'' A newborn is expected to void within the '''first 24 hours''' of life, and the first meconium stool is expected within 24 to 48 hours. No void by 28 hours must be reported so the infant can be evaluated for dehydration, inadequate intake, or a urinary tract anomaly or obstruction. Option 2 is incorrect because this is outside the expected window. Option 3 is unsafe: newborns are never given plain or sterile water, which can cause hyponatremia, water intoxication, and seizures; the correct response to poor intake is more frequent breast or formula feeding. Option 4 is not an evidence-based newborn intervention and delays reporting.