Nokea
The client in labor is requesting water therapy (hydrotherapy) to help provide pain relief and relaxation. Her recent vaginal exam was 2/50/—2. How should the nurse respond to the client’s request?
- A. “Usually we initiate hydrotherapy during active labor.”
- B. “You will not need to change positions quite as much.”
- C. “We will not be able to monitor fetal heart rate as easily.”
- D. “You can use hydrotherapy for up to 60 minutes at a time.”
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Hydrotherapy is usually initiated when the client is in active labor, at approximately 4 or 5 cm. This timing will help reduce the risk of prolonged labor and provide a welcome change when the contractions are becoming stronger and closer together. Changing position takes less effort while immersed in water, so women are encouraged to change positions more frequently to help facilitate the process of labor. FHR monitoring can be done just as easily during hydrotherapy, using a wireless external monitor, Doppler, or fetoscope. Internal electrodes can be placed during most types of hydrotherapy but is contraindicated during jet hydrotherapy. There is no time limit for laboring women to use hydrotherapy; they may stay as long as desired, unless complications develop during the labor process.
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The nurse identifies which factor as increasing the risk of gestational hypertension?
- A. Low body mass index
- B. Family history of hypertension
- C. First pregnancy at age 20
- D. Vegetarian diet
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A family history of hypertension increases the risk of gestational hypertension, as genetics play a significant role.
The pregnant client is experiencing low back pain. After determining that the client is not in labor, the nurse instructs the client to perform which exercises to increase comfort and decrease the incidence of the low back pain? Select all that apply.
- A. Kegel exercises
- B. Pelvic tilt exercises
- C. Leg raises
- D. Back stretch
- E. Stepping
Correct Answer: B,C,D
Rationale: Pelvic tilt exercises strengthen and stretch the abdominal and back muscles to relieve pain. Leg raises strengthen and stretch leg and abdominal muscles to relieve pain. Back stretch relieves pain from the back muscles caused by lordosis. Kegel exercises strengthen the pubococcygeal muscle, decreasing urinary leakage, but do not relieve back pain. Stepping provides aerobic exercise, which is good for circulation but is not recommended to decrease low back pain.
The nurse is caring for the antepartum client with a velamentous cord insertion. The client asks what symptom she would most likely experience first if one of the vessels should tear. The nurse should respond that she would most likely experience which symptom first?
- A. Vaginal bleeding
- B. Abdominal cramping
- C. Uterine contractions
- D. Placental abruption
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In a velamentous cord insertion, vessels of the cord divide some distance from the placenta in the placental membrane. Thus, the most likely first symptom would be vaginal bleeding. Abdominal cramping is unlikely to occur; velamentous cord insertion is not related to uterine activity. Contractions are unlikely to occur; velamentous cord insertion is not related to uterine activity. An abruption, when the placenta comes off the uterine wall, results in severe abdominal pain.
The continuous electronic FHR monitor tracing on the laboring client is no longer recording. How should the nurse immediately respond?
- A. Conclude that there is a problem with the baby and call for help.
- B. Check that there is adequate gel under the transducer and reposition.
- C. Give the client oxygen via facemask at 8 to 10 liters per minute.
- D. Auscultate fetal heart rate by fetoscope and assess maternal vital signs.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: When the FHR monitor tracing is no longer recording, the nurse should first check for adequate gel under the transducer. There needs to be adequate gel under the transducer for good conduction, and adding gel frequently corrects the problem. Assessing for adequate gel under the transducer and repositioning should be done before assuming there is a problem with the baby’s HR. There is no indication to give oxygen to the client. Auscultating FHR by fetoscope and assessing maternal VS could be completed, but not until the transducer has been checked.
While assessing the prenatal client, the nurse found a number of concerning problems. Place the concerning problems in the sequence that they should be addressed by the nurse.
- A. Currently bleeding and cramping
- B. Previous varicella infection
- C. Currently using tobacco
- D. Has intense pelvic pain
Correct Answer: D,A,C,B
Rationale: Has intense pelvic pain is most concerning and should be addressed first by the nurse. It could be a symptom of a serious medical condition, such as a miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, or appendicitis. This symptom represents a possible pathology that could warrant immediate surgical intervention. Currently bleeding and cramping should be addressed next. It could be associated with the pelvic pain and could be a symptom of a serious medical condition, such as a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. Currently using tobacco can put the client at risk for multiple adverse outcomes and should be addressed, although it is not an immediately concerning factor. Previous varicella infection is important to document but poses no risk to the client or the fetus, so it is the least important to address.