The nurse notices that a 37-week newborn who was born by spontaneous vaginal delivery 2 hours ago still has a thick white coating in his skin folds and hair. What would be the most appropriate intervention?

To inform the NICU charge nurse to do a Ballard score as this would be unusual for a 37-week newborn.

Chart the white coating as milia and continue with the assessment.

Notify the doctor to get an order to swab the coating to test for infection.

Inform the parents that the coating is vernix which protects the baby's skin. Most of it will come off in the bath later and to just rub any excess into the baby's skin folds.