One of the following is true about Vitamin K in the newborn period.

UPUMS Nsg.Officer-2024

Pediatric Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: UPUMS Nsg.Officer-2024

Explanation

The statement that Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin is a correct nutritional fact.
Vitamins are classified into two main groups: fat-soluble and water-soluble.
The fat-soluble vitamins are A, D, E, and K.
These vitamins are absorbed along with fats in the diet and are stored in the body's fatty tissue and liver.

Option A: An excess of Vitamin K does not cause bleeding; a deficiency does. Vitamin K is crucial for the synthesis of clotting factors. Toxicity, though rare, is associated with hemolysis and jaundice.
Option B: Newborns have a sterile gut and cannot effectively synthesize or absorb Vitamin K. Intramuscular (IM) injection bypasses the gut, ensuring a reliable dose is delivered to prevent bleeding. The IM route provides a depot effect for sustained release.
Option C: Prophylactic Vitamin K is recommended for ALL newborns. While breastfed infants are at a higher risk due to the low Vitamin K content in breast milk, all infants are born with low stores and are susceptible to Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB).

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Properties and prophylactic administration of Vitamin K in newborns as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
A nurse's primary role is to administer a single intramuscular dose of Vitamin K (phytonadione) to all newborns shortly after birth as a standard prophylactic measure.
This intervention is critical to prevent Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB), a potentially life-threatening condition that can cause intracranial hemorrhage and permanent neurologic damage.
What if a parent refuses the Vitamin K injection for their newborn? The nurse must first educate the parents about the serious risks of VKDB, including brain damage and death. If they still refuse, the nurse must carefully document the refusal in the medical record and ensure the parents have signed a refusal form, per hospital policy.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core subject of the question, which is Vitamin K in the newborn period.
The question asks for a 'true' statement, so you must evaluate each option for its factual accuracy.
Recall the basic classification of vitamins. Remember the mnemonic 'ADEK' for the fat-soluble vitamins.
Evaluate Option D: 'Vitamin K is a fat soluble vitamin.' This is a fundamental fact. Keep it as a likely correct answer.
Evaluate the other options based on your knowledge of neonatal physiology and care.
Option A: Think about the function of Vitamin K (clotting). Deficiency causes bleeding, so excess would not. This is incorrect.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Properties and prophylactic administration of Vitamin K in newborns.
Stem keywords: Vitamin K, newborn period, true
Lead-in keywords: true
Negative lead-in flag: false

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E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 pp. 527-529, 1138-1140