RN ATI Maternal Newborn 2023 with NGN Related

Review RN ATI Maternal Newborn 2023 with NGN related questions and content

A nurse is caring for a client who is in labor and reports increasing rectal pressure. They are experiencing contractions 2 to 3 min apart, each lasting 80 to 90 seconds, and a vaginal examination reveals that their cervix is dilated to 9 cm. The nurse should identify that the client is in which of the following phases of labor?

  • A. Passive descent.
  • B. Active.
  • C. Early.
  • D. Descent.
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Descent. At 9 cm dilation, the client is in the second stage of labor, which consists of the descent and birth of the baby. Increasing rectal pressure indicates fetal descent and impending birth. Contractions 2-3 min apart lasting 80-90 seconds are characteristic of the active phase of the second stage of labor. The passive descent phase occurs earlier when the cervix is not fully dilated. The early phase is part of the first stage of labor. Active labor typically begins when the cervix is around 6 cm dilated. Therefore, D is the correct choice as it aligns with the client's symptoms and stage of labor progression.