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. This action is performed prior to assessing the patient's uterus because a full bladder can displace the uterus, leading to inaccurate assessment of uterine size and position. By asking the patient to void, the nurse ensures an accurate assessment of the uterus. Placing the patient on the left side (choice A) is important for preventing supine hypotension but is not directly related to assessing the uterus. Assessing the passage of lochia (choice B) is important postpartum, but it can be done after checking the uterus. Administering a dose of oxytocin (choice D) may be indicated to prevent postpartum hemorrhage, but it is not the first step in assessing the patient's uterus.