In an infant diagnosed with hypoglycemia, what is the first nursing intervention?

In the case of an infant diagnosed with hypoglycemia, the most immediate nursing intervention is to administer an intravenous bolus of dextrose if the infant is unable to feed orally. This is crucial because hypoglycemia can lead to significant neurological damage if not promptly addressed. Administering dextrose directly into the bloodstream provides a rapid correction of the low blood sugar level, thus preventing potential complications.

In situations where an infant is unable to feed—whether due to poor feeding skills, lethargy, or other health complications—oral feeding would not be a viable option, making intravenous administration of dextrose the most effective and immediate solution to restore blood glucose levels.

While starting an intravenous line may be part of the procedure to administer dextrose, it does not directly address the hypoglycemia itself. Monitoring blood glucose levels continuously is important for ongoing assessment but does not act on the immediate need to correct dangerously low glucose. Encouraging oral feeding is beneficial in stable situations but is not appropriate if the infant is unable to feed. Therefore, the administration of intravenous dextrose is the priority intervention in this context.