Nokea
The nurse is caring for the client who is 28 hours postpartum. Which assessment findings should prompt the nurse to notify the HCP of possible puerperal infection? Select all that apply.
- A. Oral temperature of 102.2°F (39°C)
- B. Telangiectasis on the neck and chest
- C. Mild abdominal tenderness with palpation
- D. Lochial discharge that is foul smelling
- E. White blood cell count of 16,500 cells/mm3
Correct Answer: A,D
Rationale: A temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher after 24 hours postpartum is associated with a puerperal infection. Telangiectasis is red, slightly raised vascular “spiders” that may appear during pregnancy over the neck, thorax, face, or arms and remain or fade during the postpartum period. It is not indicative of an infection. Slight abdominal tenderness with palpation is a normal postpartum finding. Malodorous lochia is a common sign of a puerperal infection. A WBC count of 16,500 is normal for the postpartum client; labor produces a mild pro-inflammatory state.
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The nurse advises the client to keep the newborn's crib free of which item?
- A. Soft toys and blankets
- B. Firm mattress
- C. Fitted sheet
- D. Crib bumpers
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Soft toys and blankets in the crib increase the risk of suffocation and SIDS, and should be avoided.
The laboring client in the first stage of labor is talking and laughing with her husband. The nurse should conclude that the client is probably in what phase?
- A. Transition
- B. Active
- C. Active pushing
- D. Latent
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: During the latent phase (1—3 cm), the client is usually happy and talkative. During the transition phase (8—10 cm), the client is usually more restless, irritable, and more likely to lose control. During the active phase (4—7 cm), the client may become more anxious and fatigued and needs to concentrate on breathing techniques to cope with the increasingly stronger contractions. The client who is actively pushing is focusing on how effective she is in the descent of the fetus and concentrating on how she is coping with contractions. She is usually not expressing happiness or laughter, and is not talkative.
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.
Which statement by the client indicates a need for further psychosocial support?
- A. I feel ready to bond with my baby.
- B. I am excited about becoming a mother.
- C. I feel worthless and overwhelmed daily.
- D. I have a great support system at home.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Feeling worthless and overwhelmed daily suggests potential depression, indicating a need for additional psychosocial support.
The nurse assesses the 34-week pregnant client (G2P1). Place the assessment findings in the sequence that they should be addressed by the nurse from the most significant to the least significant.
- A. Pedal edema at +3
- B. BP 144/94 mm Hg
- C. Positive group beta streptococcus vaginal culture
- D. Fundal height increase of 4.5 cm in 1 week
Correct Answer: B,D,A,C
Rationale: BP 144/94 mm Hg warrants immediate evaluation. It could indicate preeclampsia, a condition that can progress to serious complications. Fundal height increase of 4.5 cm in 1 week is abnormal and requires further follow-up. Normal fundal height increase is 1 to 2 cm per week. An increase in fundal size can be related to gestational diabetes, large-for-gestational-age fetus, fetal anomalies, or polyhydramnios. Pedal edema at +3 may be a normal physiological process if it is an isolated finding. Pedal edema warrants further assessment because it can be a symptom of preeclampsia. Positive group beta streptococcus vaginal culture warrants antibiotic treatment in labor but does not warrant intervention during the pregnancy.