FAU Advanced Health Assessment Practice Test

The Apgar score is specifically designed to evaluate a newborn's health status immediately after birth. It assesses five criteria: appearance (skin color), pulse (heart rate), grimace response (reflexes), activity (muscle tone), and respiration (breathing effort). Each criterion is scored from 0 to 2, with a maximum total score of 10. This quick assessment helps determine whether a newborn requires immediate medical assistance. It is performed at one minute and five minutes after birth, highlighting the baby’s physical condition and adjusting care as needed.

While the other options provided address important aspects of healthcare, they are not relevant to the Apgar score. Assessing nutritional status pertains to ongoing health evaluations rather than immediate post-birth assessment. Determining vaccination needs is a consideration for later in infancy or childhood, rather than at birth. Measuring pain response typically involves different scales and assessments focused on older infants or children post-delivery rather than evaluating their general health at the point of birth.