External Maternal Monitoring Related

Review External Maternal Monitoring related questions and content

A pregnant patient is at 34 weeks gestation and reports frequent headaches and visual changes. What should the nurse do first?

  • A. Monitor the patient's blood pressure and assess for signs of preeclampsia.
  • B. Encourage the patient to rest and drink plenty of fluids.
  • C. Administer pain medication as prescribed to relieve the headache.
  • D. Schedule an appointment with an eye specialist to check for vision changes.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. At 34 weeks gestation, headaches and visual changes can be signs of preeclampsia, a serious pregnancy complication. The nurse should first monitor the patient's blood pressure as elevated BP is a key indicator of preeclampsia. Assessing for other signs like proteinuria and edema is crucial for early detection and timely intervention. Encouraging rest and fluids (choice B) may not address the underlying issue. Administering pain medication (choice C) only masks symptoms without addressing the potential serious condition. Scheduling an eye specialist appointment (choice D) is not the priority as the symptoms are more indicative of a systemic issue like preeclampsia.