Question: A new mother expresses concern to a nurse regarding sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). She asks the nurse how to position her new infant for sleep. The nurse appropriately tells the mother that the infant should be placed on the:
1. Side or prone
2. Back or prone
3. Stomach with the face turned
4. Back rather than on the stomach
Rationale: Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the unexpected death of an apparently healthy infant younger than 1 year for whom an investigation of the death and a thorough autopsy fails to show an adequate cause of death. Several theories are proposed regarding the cause, but the exact cause is unknown. Nurses should encourage parents to place the infant on the back (supine) for sleep. Infants in the prone position (on the stomach) may be unable to move their heads to the side, increasing the risk of suffocation. The infant may have the ability to turn to a prone position from the side-lying position.
Test-Taking Strategy: Use the process of elimination. Eliminate options 1, 2, and 3 because they are comparable or alike. Remember that the infant needs to be placed on his or her back. Review positioning of the healthy infant for sleep and the preventive measures for SIDS if you had difficulty with this question.
Level of Cognitive Ability: Applying
Client Needs: Safe and Effective Care Environment
Integrated Process: Teaching and Learning
Content Area: Child Health—Eye/Ear/Throat/Respiratory/Cardiovascular
Reference: Perry, S., Hockenberry, M., Lowdermilk, D., & Wilson, D. (2010). Maternal child nursing care (4th ed., p. 1008). St. Louis: Mosby.
This week’s NCLEX exam practice question came from:
Silvestri: Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN Examination, 5th Edition, Chapter 38, pg 451, question 389
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