Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle 2017) - Assessment and Management of Patients With Female Physiologic Processes Related

Review Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle 2017) - Assessment and Management of Patients With Female Physiologic Processes related questions and content

A newly pregnant patient is being assessed in an obstetric clinic. The patient states that she has been experiencing intense abdominal pain and the nurse anticipates that the patient will be assessed for ectopic pregnancy. In addition to ultrasonography, what diagnostic test should the nurse anticipate?

  • A. Computed tomography
  • B. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) testing
  • C. Estrogen and progesterone testing
  • D. Abdominal x-ray
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: If an ectopic pregnancy is suspected, the patient is assessed using ultrasound and hCG testing, which can confirm pregnancy location and viability. CT and x-rays are contraindicated during pregnancy due to radiation risks, and estrogen/progesterone levels are not diagnostic for ectopic pregnancy.