Practice Question
During a physical assessment, the nurse palpates the newborn's hard and soft palate with a gloved index finger. The mother of the infant asks the nurse to explain what is being done to the infant. The nurse replies that this assessment is done to detect which of the following possible problems?
Answer Choices:
Correct Answer:
Openings in the palate
Rationale:
🟣 Palpating the hard and soft palate with a gloved finger allows the nurse to detect openings, gaps, or defects, such as a cleft palate.
🟣 Some palatal defects may be subtle or not immediately visible, so gentle palpation is essential to confirm that the palate is intact and continuous.
🟣 An undiagnosed cleft palate can interfere with feeding, sucking, and later speech development, making early detection crucial.
🟣 By feeling the palate, the nurse ensures that the structures needed for effective suck and swallow coordination are present.
🟣 Therefore, the purpose of this assessment is to identify any openings in the palate that might require further evaluation, interventions, or specialist referral.
A thrush infection
🟣Thrush presents as white plaques on the oral mucosa, which are generally visible on inspection without needing deep palpation of the palate.
🟣 Palpation of the palate is not the primary method to detect thrush; it is usually diagnosed by visual examination.
Adequacy of saliva production
🟣Saliva production is observed by overall moisture in the mouth, swallowing, and drooling patterns, not by feeling the palate.
🟣 Palpation does not provide reliable information about salivary gland function.
A shortened frenulum
🟣A shortened frenulum (tongue-tie) is evaluated by inspecting and lifting the tongue, not by palpating the palate.
🟣 The frenulum is beneath the tongue, whereas this assessment focuses on the roof of the mouth.
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This question is from ATI Maternal Newborn which contains 27 questions.
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Question Details
- Category: RN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: ATI Exam(s)
- Domain: RN ATI Maternal & Newborn Care
- Answer Choices: 4