# A parent of a 2-day-old newborn asks why the baby's skin looks yellow. Which response should the nurse give?

> source: MyMerci (mymerci.kr)  
> url: https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=397285&lang=en  
> language: en  
> subject: Lifestyle Choices  
> category: HPM

## Question

A parent of a 2-day-old newborn asks why the baby's skin looks yellow. Which response should the nurse give?

## Option

1. Yellow skin is always harmless and needs no follow-up.
2. Jaundice can occur in newborns, but bilirubin levels and feeding must be monitored. **✔ Correct answer**
3. The baby should stop feeding until the yellow color resolves.
4. The baby needs antibiotics because jaundice is always an infection.

**Correct answer: 2**

## Explanation

Newborn jaundice can be common, but bilirubin level, feeding, hydration, and risk factors require monitoring. Feeding usually supports bilirubin elimination unless another order is given. Jaundice is not always infection and should not be ignored.

## In-depth explanation

Clinical Judgment
Use the client cues, timing, labs, and safety risks to select the response that best fits Newborn jaundice teaching.

Memory Tip
Match the strongest cue cluster to the safest nursing judgment.

KR vs US
NCLEX items reward cue-based priority thinking rather than isolated recall.

## Clinical scenario

Clinical Practice Guide
For Newborn jaundice teaching, compare the complete cue pattern with the client's current stability, ordered data, and expected nursing scope.

Caution
Do not choose an action from one isolated cue when the full scenario changes priority or safety.

## Key concepts

- **Jaundice** — Yellowing of skin or sclera caused by elevated bilirubin.
- **Bilirubin** — A pigment formed from red blood cell breakdown.
- **Newborn Feeding** — Intake that supports hydration, stooling, and bilirubin elimination.

## Related questions

- [One hour after birth, a postpartum client has heavy lochia and a boggy uterus above the um…](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=393888&lang=en)
- [A pregnant client at 34 weeks gestation reports a severe headache and blurred vision. The …](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=394058&lang=en)
- [A pregnant client at 34 weeks gestation reports a severe headache and blurred vision. The …](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=394059&lang=en)
- [The nurse teaches parents of a 3-day-old newborn about jaundice. Which finding should the …](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=394157&lang=en)
- [A pregnant client at 32 weeks reports a severe headache and visual spots. Which instructio…](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=397170&lang=en)
- [A pregnant client at 32 weeks reports a severe headache and visual spots. Which instructio…](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=397171&lang=en)
- [A breastfeeding client has mastitis and asks whether to stop feeding from the affected bre…](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=397341&lang=en)
- [A breastfeeding client has mastitis and asks whether to stop feeding from the affected bre…](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=397342&lang=en)

## Read in another language

- [en](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=397285&lang=en)
- [ko](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=397285&lang=ko)
- [ja](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=397285&lang=ja)
- [zh-TW](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=397285&lang=zh-tw)
- [vi](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=397285&lang=vi)

---

More free questions: [NCLEX-RN Practice](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_bank.php?lang=en)

_For study reference only. Always follow current clinical guidelines and your institution’s protocols._