Maternal Monitoring Related

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A nurse is caring for a pregnant patient who is at 40 weeks gestation and reports leaking clear fluid. What is the nurse's priority action?

  • A. Check the fetal heart rate and assess the mother's vital signs.
  • B. Encourage the patient to go home and rest until contractions begin.
  • C. Instruct the patient to monitor fetal movement and call back if the fluid continues to leak.
  • D. Call the healthcare provider immediately to report the rupture of membranes.
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because the nurse's priority action in this scenario is to report the rupture of membranes to the healthcare provider immediately. This is crucial to ensure timely assessment and management to prevent infection and monitor for potential complications. Checking fetal heart rate and vital signs (A) can be important but not as urgent as reporting the rupture of membranes. Encouraging the patient to go home and rest (B) is inappropriate as leaking clear fluid at 40 weeks gestation may indicate rupture of membranes. Instructing the patient to monitor fetal movement and call back (C) is not sufficient as immediate medical attention is needed in case of ruptured membranes.