The nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving magnesium sulfate for pre-eclampsia. Which assessments will be of the highest priority?
- A. Assessing lung sounds
- B. Assessing blood sugar level
- C. Encouraging fluid intake
- D. Assessing for pitting edema
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Assessing lung sounds. This is of highest priority because magnesium sulfate can lead to respiratory depression. Assessing lung sounds helps monitor for signs of respiratory distress, such as decreased breath sounds or crackles. Assessing blood sugar level (B) is important but not as urgent as respiratory status. Encouraging fluid intake (C) is important for hydration but not as critical as respiratory assessment. Assessing for pitting edema (D) is relevant for monitoring fluid retention but not as immediate as assessing lung sounds for respiratory compromise.
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The nurse is caring for a woman with a history of a previous preterm birth. Based on current knowledge related to cervical incompetency, which should the nurse do?
- A. Prepare the woman for an abdominal ultrasound
- B. Place the patient on her left side to increase perfusion to the fetus
- C. Be prepared to discuss the action and side effects of progesterone
- D. Monitor the patient’s blood pressure closely
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because progesterone is a recommended treatment for cervical incompetency to prevent preterm birth. Progesterone helps support the uterine lining and decrease the risk of preterm labor. Therefore, discussing the action and side effects of progesterone with the patient is essential.
A: While an abdominal ultrasound may provide information about the cervix, it is not the immediate priority in this case.
B: Placing the patient on her left side is a common practice for improving blood flow, but it is not directly related to managing cervical incompetency.
D: Monitoring blood pressure is important in prenatal care, but it is not specifically related to the management of cervical incompetency in this context.
A nurse is caring for a client who is G1P0 and 36 weeks gestation who has been diagnosed with severe pre-eclampsia. Her blood pressure is 165/110. The physician has ordered hydralazine. The nurse knows she should do which of the following when administering this medication?
- A. Position the client supine with the head of the bed elevated 30 degrees.
- B. Get baseline blood pressure and pulse and monitor frequently during administration.
- C. Administer medication every 5 minutes until blood pressure is stabilized.
- D. Inform the client that this may cause a positive direct Coombs test result.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B. Getting baseline blood pressure and pulse and monitoring frequently during administration is crucial because hydralazine is a potent antihypertensive medication that can cause significant drops in blood pressure. Monitoring allows for early detection of hypotension or adverse reactions.
A is incorrect because positioning the client supine with the head of the bed elevated 30 degrees is not specific to the administration of hydralazine for pre-eclampsia.
C is incorrect because administering medication every 5 minutes until blood pressure is stabilized is not a standard protocol for hydralazine administration; it should be given as per physician's orders with appropriate monitoring.
D is incorrect because informing the client about a positive direct Coombs test result is not relevant to the administration of hydralazine; this is more pertinent to medications that can cause hemolytic anemia.
The nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving magnesium sulfate for pre-eclampsia. Which assessments will be of the highest priority?
- A. Assessing lung sounds
- B. Assessing blood sugar level
- C. Encouraging fluid intake
- D. Assessing for pitting edema
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because magnesium sulfate can cause respiratory depression, necessitating close monitoring of lung sounds to detect any signs of respiratory distress. Assessing lung sounds is crucial for early detection and intervention. Blood sugar level (B) monitoring is not directly related to magnesium sulfate therapy. Encouraging fluid intake (C) may be important, but not as critical as assessing lung sounds. Assessing for pitting edema (D) is important for overall assessment but not the highest priority in this scenario.
The labor and delivery nurse reviews a client’s prenatal records and notes that the client had a positive GBS culture at 27 weeks gestation. Based on current guidelines, what is the recommended plan?
- A. Send a GBS to the laboratory immediately
- B. Prepare to administer penicillin prophylactically
- C. Determine if a follow-up culture was done at 38 weeks gestation
- D. Determine if the patient received antibiotics for the positive strep
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Prepare to administer penicillin prophylactically. This is the recommended plan because current guidelines suggest administering intrapartum prophylaxis with penicillin for GBS-positive pregnant women to prevent neonatal GBS disease. Choice A is incorrect because sending a GBS to the laboratory immediately is unnecessary since the previous positive culture result is already known. Choice C is incorrect because follow-up cultures are not routinely recommended at 38 weeks gestation. Choice D is incorrect because determining if the patient received antibiotics for the positive strep does not address the need for intrapartum prophylaxis specifically with penicillin.
A nurse has just completed an assessment on a client with mild pre-eclampsia. Which data indicate that her pre-eclampsia is worsening?
- A. Blood pressure of 155/95
- B. Urinary output is greater than 30 mL/hr
- C. Deep tendon reflexes +2
- D. Client complains of blurred vision
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A (Blood pressure of 155/95) because an elevated blood pressure indicates worsening pre-eclampsia. In pre-eclampsia, high blood pressure is a key indicator of worsening condition, potentially leading to eclampsia or seizures if left untreated. Choices B (Urinary output is greater than 30 mL/hr), C (Deep tendon reflexes +2), and D (Client complains of blurred vision) are not indicative of worsening pre-eclampsia. Increased urinary output, normal deep tendon reflexes, and blurred vision are common symptoms in pre-eclampsia, but they do not necessarily signify worsening of the condition.