Postpartum Care Nursing Questions Related

Review Postpartum Care Nursing Questions related questions and content

The nurse is providing postpartum care to a patient 24 hours after a vaginal delivery. Which action does the nurse perform prior to assessing the patient's uterus?

  • A. Place the patient on the left side.
  • B. Assess the passage of lochia.
  • C. Ask the patient to void.
  • D. Administer a dose of oxytocin.
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Ask the patient to void. It is important to ask the patient to void before assessing the uterus to ensure that the bladder is empty, which allows for a more accurate assessment of the uterus size and position. This helps prevent displacement of the uterus due to a full bladder, leading to a more accurate assessment of postpartum hemorrhage risk. Placing the patient on the left side (A) is done after assessing the uterus to facilitate uterine involution. Assessing the passage of lochia (B) is important but not a priority before assessing the uterus. Administering oxytocin (D) may be indicated but should be based on assessment findings rather than being the first action.