A Preterm Infant Has Just Been Admitted to the NICU

question 44

Multiple Choice

A preterm infant has just been admitted to the NICU. The infant's parents ask the nurse about anesthesia and analgesia when painful procedures are necessary. The nurse's explanation should be based on knowledge that:

• A)Nerve pathways of neonates are not sufficiently myelinated to transmit painful stimuli.
• B)Risk of anesthesia and analgesia is too great to justify any possible benefit of pain relief.
• C)Neonates do not possess sufficiently integrated cortical function to interpret or recall pain experiences.
• D)Pain pathways and neurochemical systems associated with pain transmission are intact and functional in neonates.

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Definitions:

Memento Mori

Latin, “reminder of death.” In painting, a reminder of human mortality, usually represented by a skull.

Vanitas Paintings

A genre of still-life painting that flourished in the Netherlands in the 17th century, emphasizing the fleeting nature of life, the futility of pleasure, and the certainty of death, often symbolized by skulls, flowers, and other objects.

Still-Life Compositions

Still-Life Compositions are artworks depicting inanimate objects arranged together, often including flowers, fruit, vessels, and other household items, celebrated for their beauty, symbolic meanings, and the skill of the artist.

Elevation of the Cross

A masterpiece by artist Peter Paul Rubens, depicting the mounting of Jesus Christ on the cross, celebrated for its dramatic intensity and emotional depth.