A woman who is primigravida is complaining of leg cramps. Which statement by the nurse best describes how to provide relief from this discomfort?
- A. Extend both of your legs and touch your toes to stretch your calf muscle.
- B. Dorsiflex the foot to relieve the cramping.
- C. Elevate the leg above your heart until the cramp has subsided.
- D. Plantar flex the foot to relieve the cramping.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Dorsiflex the foot to relieve the cramping. Dorsiflexing the foot, which involves pulling the toes towards the shin, helps to stretch the calf muscle and alleviate cramping. This action targets the specific muscle group affected by leg cramps.
A: Incorrect. Stretching by extending both legs and touching your toes may not directly target the calf muscle.
C: Incorrect. Elevating the leg above the heart is more suitable for reducing swelling, not necessarily relieving leg cramps.
D: Incorrect. Plantar flexing the foot (pointing toes away from the shin) may worsen the cramping as it contracts the calf muscle further.
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What is true of family-centered care? (Select one that does not apply.)
- A. The nurse's role is to enter into a partnership with the family.
- B. The health care professionals are the primary decision makers.
- C. The family's involvement during pregnancy and birth is seen as constructive necessary for bonding and support.
- D. Families contribute their ability to accept and maintain control over the health care of family members.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Family-centered care emphasizes collaboration between healthcare providers and families, recognizing the family's crucial role in patient care and decision-making.
A woman is at 14 weeks of gestation. The nurse would expect to palpate the fundus at which level?
- A. Not palpable above the symphysis at this time
- B. Slightly above the symphysis pubis
- C. At the level of the umbilicus
- D. Slightly above the umbilicus
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In normal pregnancies, the uterus grows at a predictable rate. It may be palpated above the symphysis pubis sometime between the 12th and 14th weeks of pregnancy.
A woman's obstetric history indicates that she is pregnant for the fourth time and all of her children from previous pregnancies are living. One was born at 39 weeks of gestation, twins were born at 34 weeks of gestation, and another child was born at 35 weeks of gestation. What is her gravidity and parity using the GTPAL system?
- A. 3-1-1-1-3
- B. 4-1-2-0-4
- C. 3-0-3-0-3
- D. 4-2-1-0-3
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The GTPAL system calculates gravidity and parity as follows: G (total pregnancies) = 4, T (term births) = 1, P (preterm births) = 2, A (abortions/miscarriages) = 0, L (living children) = 4.
Now in her second trimester of pregnancy, the client, who was a marathon runner before nausea and overwhelming tiredness kept her from exercising regularly, is wondering whether she can run now. What is the nurse's best response?
- A. Certainly, if you feel up to it.
- B. Your level of exercise will be somewhat modified by the changes occurring in your body.
- C. Your primary health care provider will need to give you permission.
- D. Because your body is meeting the needs of two people now, you should avoid too much exercise.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: "Your level of exercise will be somewhat modified by the changes occurring in your body."
Rationale:
1. Pregnancy impacts a woman's body significantly, including changes in hormones, weight distribution, and center of gravity.
2. These changes can affect a woman's ability to engage in high-impact activities like running.
3. The nurse's response acknowledges the need for modification in exercise routine to accommodate these changes.
4. It promotes a balanced approach to exercise during pregnancy, considering both the benefits of physical activity and the safety of the mother and baby.
Summary of Other Choices:
A: "Certainly, if you feel up to it." - This response oversimplifies the situation and does not consider the specific physiological changes during pregnancy that may impact the woman's ability to run safely.
C: "Your primary health care provider will need to give you permission." - While consulting a healthcare provider is important, this response does not address the specific concerns related to exercise during pregnancy.
A patient relates a story of how her boyfriend is feeling her aches and pains associated with her pregnancy. She is concerned that her boyfriend is making fun of her concerns. How would you respond to this patient statement?
- A. Tell her not to worry because it is natural for her boyfriend to make her feel better by identifying with her pregnancy.
- B. Refer the patient to a psychologist for counseling to deal with this problem because it is clearly upsetting her.
- C. Explain that her boyfriend may be experiencing couvade syndrome and that this is a normal finding seen with male partners.
- D. Ask the patient specifically to define her concerns related to her relationship with her boyfriend and suggest methods to stop this type of behavior by her significant other.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because couvade syndrome is a real phenomenon where male partners experience similar symptoms to their pregnant partners. By explaining this to the patient, it validates her concerns and normalizes her boyfriend's behavior.
Choice A is incorrect because it dismisses the patient's concerns and does not address the underlying issue. Choice B is incorrect because referring the patient to a psychologist may be premature without exploring the possibility of couvade syndrome first. Choice D is incorrect because it does not address the potential root cause of the boyfriend's behavior and may not provide a satisfactory resolution for the patient.