The client on the labor unit has been experiencing frequent, painful contractions for the last 6 hours. The contractions are of poor quality, and there has been no cervical change. Which interventions should the nurse implement? Select all that apply.
- A. Maintain bed rest
- B. Administer a sedative
- C. Administer an analgesic
- D. Prepare for cesarean delivery
- E. Prepare to start oxytocin
Correct Answer: A,B,C,E
Rationale: This client is experiencing a hypertonic labor pattern in which her contractions are frequent and painful, but no cervical change has occurred. This client should be encouraged to rest often. A sedative should be given to assist the client to rest. Because the contractions are painful, an analgesic should be administered to help the client relax and cope more effectively. If the hypertonic labor pattern continues, augmentation should be initiated with either an oxytocin infusion or amniotomy. A cesarean birth is not a treatment for a hypertonic labor pattern unless a nonreassuring FHR pattern is present.
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The laboring client is experiencing dyspnea, diaphoresis, tachycardia, and hypotension while lying on her back. Which intervention should the nurse implement immediately?
- A. Turn the client onto her left side.
- B. Turn the client onto her right side.
- C. Notify the attending obstetrician.
- D. Apply oxygen by nasal cannula.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: When the laboring client lies flat on her back, the gravid uterus completely occludes the inferior vena cava and laterally displaces the subrenal aorta. This aortocaval compression reduces maternal cardiac output, producing dyspnea, diaphoresis, tachycardia, and hypotension. Other symptoms include air hunger, nausea, and weakness. A left side-lying position decreases aortocaval compression. Lying on the right side increases aortocaval compression. Notifying the obstetrician is not the first intervention. The obstetrician would be notified if symptoms are not relieved by a left side-lying position. Applying oxygen may be needed, but first the client should be placed left side-lying.
Before hospitalization, an adolescent client had decided to give up her newborn for adoption. The client had an uncomplicated vaginal delivery and is still committed to her decision. Which intervention should the nurse exclude?
- A. Offer to the client a transfer to a different unit within the hospital.
- B. Talk to the client about having possible feelings of ambivalence.
- C. Initiate a case management or social work consult for the client.
- D. Notify her family to ensure that support is available upon her discharge.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Offering to transfer the client is appropriate and would not be excluded. The postpartum unit may be filled with sounds and sights that may distress the client. It would be appropriate for the nurse to discuss possible ambivalence with the client, as she may have increased feelings of attachment, love, and grief after delivery. Having those feelings does not necessarily mean that the client has made the wrong decision. Initiating a case management or social work consult is appropriate and would not be excluded. The client may not have support systems available because she may not have disclosed her pregnancy to others. The adolescent may not have disclosed the pregnancy to family. Although it would be appropriate for the nurse to explore the client’s support system with the client, the nurse should not contact the client’s family.
An LPN asks an RN to assist in locating the fundus of the client who is 8 hours post—vaginal delivery. Place an X at the location on the client’s abdomen where the RN should direct the LPN to begin to palpate the fundus.
Correct Answer: Level of the umbilicus
Rationale: Six to 12 hours after birth, the fundus of the uterus rises to the level of the umbilicus due to blood and clots that remain within the uterus and changes in ligament support. Thus, the RN should direct the LPN to locate the client’s fundus at the level of the umbilicus.
When up to the bathroom for the first time after a vaginal delivery, the client states, “A friend told me that I’m going to have trouble with urinary incontinence now that I have had a baby.” Which is the best response by the nurse?
- A. “That’s not true. You won’t need to worry about this until menopause.”
- B. “I will teach you how to do Kegel exercises to strengthen your muscles.”
- C. “Wearing a pad similar to a sanitary pad will help contain the incontinence.”
- D. “If this occurs, notify your HCP to have surgery to correct urinary incontinence.”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Women of any life stage can experience urinary incontinence. Kegel exercises strengthen muscles surrounding the vagina and urinary meatus, preventing urinary incontinence for many women. To perform Kegel exercise, contract the muscles around the vagina and hold for 10 seconds, then rest for 10 seconds. This should be repeated 30 or more times each day. The nurse should educate the client about ways in which to prevent urinary incontinence, not just offer information about how to manage the condition if it should occur. Surgical repair only occurs in the most extreme circumstances, after less invasive interventions have been unsuccessful.
Which response by the nurse about Chadwick's sign is most accurate?
- A. It's a bluish discoloration of the cervix, vagina, and vulva that occurs as a result of the presence of an increased number of blood vessels.
- B. It's a softening of the cervix that occurs because of an increased amount of blood flowing to the reproductive organs.
- C. It's a dark brown line extending from the umbilicus to the symphysis pubis that occurs as a result of hormonal changes.
- D. None of the above
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Chadwick's sign is the bluish discoloration of the cervix, vagina, and vulva due to increased vascularity, a probable sign of pregnancy.
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