Question

the mother of a newborn refuses to have her newborn administered the vitamin k injection. which information should the nurse provide the mother?

a the maternal diet is often deficient in vitamin k, so the newborn is deficient in the vitamin k.

b oral vitamin k impedes the synthesis of clotting factors in the liver.

c bacteria that synthesize vitamin k are not present in the newborn’s intestinal tract.

d the synthesis of vitamin k is inadequate for 3 to 4 months in the newborn.

Explanation:

• Option A: Maternal diet isn't typically deficient in vitamin K; newborns have low vitamin K due to limited placental transfer, not maternal diet deficiency. So A is incorrect.
• Option B: Oral vitamin K does not impede clotting factor synthesis; it helps in it. So B is incorrect.
• Option C: Newborns' intestinal tracts are sterile initially, so bacteria that synthesize vitamin K are absent. This is a key reason for vitamin K deficiency in newborns, making C correct.
• Option D: The synthesis of vitamin K - dependent factors is inadequate, but the synthesis of vitamin K itself isn't the main issue. Also, the timeframe of 3 - 4 months is incorrect. So D is incorrect.

Answer:

C. Bacteria that synthesize vitamin K are not present in the newborn’s intestinal tract.