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A patient in active labor starts to complain of circumoral numbness and tingling in her fingertips. What should the nurse do?
- A. Increase intravenous fluids.
- B. Give the woman pain medication.
- C. Obtain an arterial blood gas.
- D. Encourage the woman to slow down her breathing.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Encourage the woman to slow down her breathing. Circumoral numbness and tingling in the fingertips are symptoms of hyperventilation, which can occur during labor due to increased anxiety. Slowing down breathing helps to correct the imbalance of oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, alleviating the symptoms. Increasing IV fluids (A) is not indicated for hyperventilation. Pain medication (B) does not address the root cause. Obtaining an arterial blood gas (C) is not necessary unless the symptoms persist after addressing hyperventilation.
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A nurse is educating a pregnant patient about safe sleep practices for the infant. Which of the following statements by the patient indicates the need for further teaching?
- A. I will always place my baby on their back to sleep.
- B. I will place my baby in the same bed with me to make sure they are safe.
- C. I will keep soft bedding out of my baby's crib.
- D. I will encourage tummy time when my baby is awake.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because placing the baby in the same bed increases the risk of suffocation, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), and other sleep-related accidents. Co-sleeping is not recommended due to the potential hazards. Choices A, C, and D are safe sleep practices. Placing the baby on their back reduces the risk of SIDS, keeping soft bedding out of the crib prevents suffocation, and tummy time is beneficial for the baby's development when they are awake.
What does the nurse explain can affect the survival of the X- and Y-bearing sperm after intercourse?
- A. Age
- B. Estrogen level
- C. Body temperature
- D. Level of feminine hygiene
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Estrogen levels and the pH of the female reproductive tract can affect the survival of the X- and Y-bearing sperm as well as their motility.
What is the primary goal of using an epidural for pain management during labor?
- A. to provide analgesia without sedation
- B. to allow for movement and positioning
- C. to relieve anxiety and promote relaxation
- D. to allow for continuous monitoring
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The primary goal of using an epidural during labor is to provide analgesia without sedation. Epidurals block pain signals, allowing the laboring individual to feel relief while remaining fully conscious. This helps manage labor pain effectively without causing sedation, allowing the individual to actively participate in the birthing process. Choice B is incorrect because epidurals can limit movement and positioning due to numbness. Choice C is incorrect as the main purpose is pain relief, not anxiety relief. Choice D is incorrect as continuous monitoring can be achieved through other methods, and it is not the primary goal of using an epidural.
A pregnant patient who is 28 weeks gestation reports a sudden increase in vaginal discharge. What is the nurse's priority action?
- A. Instruct the patient to use a sanitary pad and monitor for any changes.
- B. Assess the discharge for characteristics such as color, odor, and consistency.
- C. Encourage the patient to rest and avoid physical activity for 24 hours.
- D. Call the healthcare provider immediately to report the increase in discharge.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Assess the discharge for characteristics such as color, odor, and consistency. This is the priority action because sudden changes in vaginal discharge during pregnancy could indicate a potential infection or other complications that need to be promptly addressed. By assessing the characteristics of the discharge, the nurse can gather important information to determine the appropriate next steps, whether it requires immediate medical attention or can be managed with monitoring.
Choice A is incorrect because simply using a sanitary pad and monitoring for changes does not address the underlying cause of the increased discharge. Choice C is incorrect as rest alone may not address the potential issue with the discharge. Choice D is also incorrect because while contacting the healthcare provider is important, assessing the discharge first provides crucial information for a more informed discussion with the provider.
What assessment data are collected to assess progress during the second stage of labor?
- A. fetal heart rate
- B. fetal descent
- C. bearing-down effort
- D. contraction strength
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: fetal descent. During the second stage of labor, assessing fetal descent is crucial to monitor progress. This data helps determine if the baby is moving down the birth canal appropriately. Fetal descent indicates the effectiveness of contractions and pushing efforts. It is a key indicator of labor progression.
Rationale:
- A: Fetal heart rate is important but primarily assesses fetal well-being, not progress during the second stage of labor.
- C: Bearing-down effort is relevant for pushing but does not directly measure progress in terms of fetal descent.
- D: Contraction strength is essential but does not specifically indicate the progress of the baby's descent in the birth canal during the second stage of labor.