What is the likely intervention if a nurse observes a newborn is hypothermic shortly after birth?

Increasing the ambient room temperature is the most appropriate initial intervention for a hypothermic newborn. Newborns are particularly vulnerable to hypothermia because they have a high surface area-to-volume ratio and possess limited ability to generate body heat. Hypothermia can lead to increased oxygen demands and metabolic instability, so it is vital to warm the baby immediately after birth.

By raising the room temperature, the nurse can create a warmer environment that helps to stabilize the newborn's body temperature. This is often achieved by using a radiant warmer, which offers a consistent and controlled way to ensure the baby maintains a normal temperature.

While administering warm fluids, initiating oral feeds, or providing a hypothermia blanket might also be part of a comprehensive care plan depending on the situation, they are secondary interventions. The immediate priority should always be to remedy the environment to prevent further heat loss and support the newborn in reaching normothermia.