Health Promotion and Maintenance
33. A client is attending a newborn discharge class and asks a nurse about the bump on the infant's head. Upon assessment, the neonate has a large, diffuse swelling on the left occiput that crosses the sagittal suture line. The nurse should explain to the mother that: Select all that apply.
. This is a collection of blood under the skull bone of the infant.
. It is edematous swelling that overlies the periosteum.
. It leads to hyperbilirubinemia in the infant.
. It will require no treatment to resolve.
. It is caused by pressure on the fetal head before delivery.
Test-Taking Tip
Remember that caput succedaneum crosses the suture lines and cephalohematoma does not. Answer 1 relates to Answer 3; therefore, you can eliminate both, as they both relate to collection of blood in cephalohematoma. This infant has caput succedaneum.
Content Area: Child Health, Newborn; Integrated Process: Nursing Process, Implementation; Cognitive Level: Application; Client Need/Subneed: Health Promotion and Maintenance/Ante/Intra/Postpartum and Newborn Care
Health Promotion and Maintenance
. . .
Answer 1 is incorrect because this neonate has caput succedaneum, a collection of fluid and not blood. Cephalohematoma is a collection of blood under the skull bones and does not cross the suture lines. Answer 2 is correct because caput succedaneum is an edematous swelling that overlies the periosteum. Answer 3 is incorrect because caput succedaneum is a collection of fluid, not blood; therefore, there is no increased chance of hyperbilirubinemia that is associated with cephalohematoma. Answer 4 is correct because the only management is observation. No treatment is needed for caput succedaneum. Answer 5 is correct because caput succedaneum is the result of pressure on the fetal head before delivery.