Advanced Maternal Age Monitoring Related

Review Advanced Maternal Age Monitoring related questions and content

The nurse is assessing a pregnant patient who is 30 weeks gestation and reports pain in the lower abdomen and back. What should the nurse do first?

  • A. Assess for signs of preterm labor, including regular contractions.
  • B. Administer pain medication and advise the patient to rest.
  • C. Encourage the patient to perform light physical activity to relieve the pain.
  • D. Instruct the patient to lie flat on her back and monitor the symptoms.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A because pain in the lower abdomen and back could indicate preterm labor at 30 weeks gestation. The first step is to assess for signs of preterm labor, such as regular contractions, to determine the urgency of the situation. Administering pain medication (B) without assessing the cause can mask symptoms. Encouraging physical activity (C) may worsen preterm labor. Instructing the patient to lie flat on her back (D) can decrease blood flow to the uterus and is not recommended in late pregnancy.