The practical nurse takes Sandu's vital signs. Which of the following would be normal for a 1-week-old infant?

The practical nurse takes Sandu's vital signs. Which of the following would be normal for a 1-week-old infant?

• A. Heart rate 100 bpm, respirations 26 breaths per minute, blood pressure 44 mm Hg systolic
• B. Heart rate 165 bpm, respirations 65 breaths per minute, blood pressure 94 mm Hg systolic
• C. Heart rate 140 bpm, respirations 40 breaths per minute, blood pressure 70 mm Hg systolic
• D. Heart rate 130 bpm, respirations 32 breaths per minute, blood pressure 100 mm Hg systolic

Answer: (C)

Infants typically have higher heart rates and variable blood pressures compared with older children, so normal ranges for a 1-week-old are about: heart rate 120–160 bpm, respiratory rate 30–60 breaths per minute, and systolic blood pressure around 60–90 mm Hg. The combination of a heart rate 140 bpm, respirations 40 breaths per minute, and a systolic pressure of 70 mm Hg fits these expected values, making it the normal set for a 1-week-old. The other options show either too slow or too fast breathing or pressures outside the typical neonatal range, which is why they aren’t considered normal for this age.

Infants typically have higher heart rates and variable blood pressures compared with older children, so normal ranges for a 1-week-old are about: heart rate 120–160 bpm, respiratory rate 30–60 breaths per minute, and systolic blood pressure around 60–90 mm Hg. The combination of a heart rate 140 bpm, respirations 40 breaths per minute, and a systolic pressure of 70 mm Hg fits these expected values, making it the normal set for a 1-week-old. The other options show either too slow or too fast breathing or pressures outside the typical neonatal range, which is why they aren’t considered normal for this age.