A client who is postpartum received methylergonovine. Which of the following findings indicates that the medication was effective?
- A. Increase in blood pressure
- B. Fundus firm to palpation
- C. Increase in lochia
- D. Report of absent breast pain
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Fundus firm to palpation. Methylergonovine is a medication used to promote uterine contraction, which helps the uterus return to its pre-pregnancy size and prevent postpartum hemorrhage. When the fundus is firm to palpation, it indicates that the uterus is contracting effectively, which is the desired outcome of giving methylergonovine.
A: Increase in blood pressure is not a direct indicator of the medication's effectiveness in this context.
C: Increase in lochia may be a sign of uterine involution but does not directly correlate with the effectiveness of methylergonovine.
D: Reporting of absent breast pain is not a specific indicator of the medication's effectiveness related to uterine contraction.
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A client who is at 40 weeks gestation and in active labor has 6 cm of cervical dilation and 100% cervical effacement. The client's blood pressure reading is 82/52 mm Hg. Which of the following nursing interventions should the nurse perform?
- A. Prepare for a cesarean birth.
- B. Assist the client to an upright position.
- C. Prepare for an immediate vaginal delivery.
- D. Assist the client to turn onto her side.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Assist the client to turn onto her side. This intervention is essential to improve blood flow to the placenta and fetus, thus helping to increase blood pressure and prevent hypotension. Turning the client onto her side can help relieve pressure on the vena cava, allowing for better circulation.
A: Preparing for a cesarean birth is not indicated based solely on the client's blood pressure reading.
B: Assisting the client to an upright position may worsen hypotension as it can further decrease blood flow to the placenta.
C: Preparing for an immediate vaginal delivery is not necessary solely based on the client's blood pressure reading.
A woman at 38 weeks of gestation is admitted in early labor with ruptured membranes. The nurse determines that the client's oral temperature is 38.9°C (102°F). Besides notifying the provider, which of the following is an appropriate nursing action?
- A. Recheck the client's temperature in 4 hours.
- B. Administer glucocorticoids intramuscularly.
- C. Assess the odor of the amniotic fluid.
- D. Prepare the client for emergency cesarean section.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Assess the odor of the amniotic fluid. This is the appropriate nursing action because the woman is at risk for chorioamnionitis due to the elevated temperature and ruptured membranes. Assessing the odor of the amniotic fluid can help in identifying signs of infection, as foul-smelling amniotic fluid may indicate chorioamnionitis. This can guide further interventions and management, such as initiating antibiotics.
Choice A is incorrect as waiting 4 hours to recheck the temperature can delay necessary interventions for potential infection. Choice B is also incorrect as administering glucocorticoids is not the immediate priority in this situation. Choice D is incorrect as preparing for an emergency cesarean section is not warranted solely based on the client's temperature and ruptured membranes without further assessment for infection.
A client at 36 weeks of gestation is suspected of having placenta previa. Which of the following findings support this diagnosis?
- A. Painless red vaginal bleeding
- B. Increasing abdominal pain with a non-relaxed uterus
- C. Abdominal pain with scant red vaginal bleeding
- D. Intermittent abdominal pain following the passage of bloody mucus
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Painless red vaginal bleeding. This finding supports the diagnosis of placenta previa due to the characteristic symptom of painless bleeding in the third trimester. Placenta previa occurs when the placenta partially or completely covers the cervix, leading to bleeding as the cervix begins to dilate. The other choices are incorrect because increasing abdominal pain with a non-relaxed uterus (B) may indicate placental abruption, abdominal pain with scant red vaginal bleeding (C) is not typical of placenta previa, and intermittent abdominal pain following the passage of bloody mucus (D) is more suggestive of preterm labor or bloody show.
A client is being cared for 2 hours after a spontaneous vaginal birth and has saturated two perineal pads with blood in a 30-minute period. Which of the following is the priority nursing intervention at this time?
- A. Palpate the client's uterine fundus.
- B. Assist the client to a bedpan to urinate.
- C. Prepare to administer oxytocic medication.
- D. Increase the client's fluid intake.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Palpate the client's uterine fundus. Palpating the uterine fundus is crucial to assess for uterine atony, a common cause of postpartum hemorrhage. If the fundus is boggy or deviated, it indicates uterine atony and immediate interventions are needed.
B: Assisting the client to a bedpan to urinate is important, but addressing the potential cause of excessive bleeding takes precedence.
C: Administering oxytocic medication may be necessary to help stimulate uterine contractions, but assessing the fundus comes first to determine the underlying cause of bleeding.
D: Increasing fluid intake is not the priority in this situation. Palpating the fundus and addressing potential hemorrhage are the immediate concerns.
A client is scheduled for a cesarean birth based on fetal lung maturity. Which finding indicates that the fetal lungs are mature?
- A. Absence of Phosphatidylglycerol (PG)
- B. Biophysical profile score of 8
- C. Lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio of 2:1
- D. Reactive nonstress test
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio of 2:1. This ratio indicates fetal lung maturity as it signifies adequate production of surfactant in the fetal lungs, essential for proper lung function after birth. Absence of Phosphatidylglycerol (PG) (Choice A) indicates immaturity, Biophysical profile score of 8 (Choice B) assesses overall fetal well-being, not lung maturity, and Reactive nonstress test (Choice D) evaluates fetal well-being, not lung maturity. The L/S ratio of 2:1 is the most reliable indicator of fetal lung maturity.