Maternal Monitoring During Labor Related

Review Maternal Monitoring During Labor related questions and content

A patient who has been in labor for several hours is now fully dilated and ready to push. What is the first action the nurse should take?

  • A. Encourage the patient to push with each contraction
  • B. Prepare the delivery room for delivery
  • C. Assess the fetal heart rate
  • D. Administer pain relief
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Assess the fetal heart rate. This is important to ensure the baby's well-being during the pushing phase. By monitoring the fetal heart rate, the nurse can detect any signs of distress or complications, allowing for prompt intervention if needed. Encouraging the patient to push (A) is appropriate once the fetal well-being is confirmed. While preparing the delivery room (B) is important, it is not the immediate priority. Administering pain relief (D) can be considered after assessing the fetal heart rate and ensuring the baby's safety.