External Maternal Monitoring Related

Review External Maternal Monitoring related questions and content

A nurse is preparing a laboring person for an epidural. What is the most important nursing action before the procedure?

  • A. ensure informed consent is signed
  • B. administer pain medication
  • C. administer IV fluids
  • D. administer an analgesic
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: ensure informed consent is signed. Before any procedure, obtaining informed consent is essential to ensure the laboring person understands the risks, benefits, and alternatives of the epidural. This helps promote autonomy and respect for the individual's decision-making. Administering pain medication (choice B), IV fluids (choice C), or an analgesic (choice D) without informed consent is not ethical and violates the principle of autonomy. The focus should be on providing comprehensive information and obtaining consent before proceeding with the intervention.