If an infant weighs 10.1 pounds and exhibits a glucose level of 40 mg/dL shortly after birth, what is the PN's priority intervention?

In the case of an infant exhibiting a low glucose level shortly after birth, the priority intervention is to encourage breastfeeding immediately. This is critical because early breastfeeding can help stabilize the infant's blood glucose levels. Breast milk provides natural sugars that can quickly raise glucose levels, thereby preventing potential complications associated with hypoglycemia.

While administering a bolus of glucose may also be appropriate in certain situations, especially if the infant's blood sugar remains low after breastfeeding efforts, immediate action to initiate breastfeeding is generally considered best practice. It promotes bonding between mother and infant and utilizes the infant's natural feeding instinct, which can facilitate effective feeding.

Monitoring for respiratory distress is important but is secondary to addressing the immediate concern of low blood sugar. Assessing the baby's ability to latch is also crucial for breastfeeding success, but it comes after the decision to encourage breastfeeding has been made. In this scenario, the focus should be on initiating feeding to address the hypoglycemia promptly.