Nokea
The nurse observes the postpartum multiparous client rubbing her abdomen. When asked if she is having pain, the client says, “It feels like menstrual cramps.” Which intervention should the nurse implement?
- A. Offer a warm blanket for her to place on her abdomen.
- B. Encourage her to lie on her stomach until the cramps stop.
- C. Instruct the client to avoid ambulation while having pain.
- D. Check her lochia flow; pain sometimes precedes hemorrhage.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Heat application to the abdomen should be avoided; it may cause uterine muscle relaxation. Multiparous women frequently experience intermittent uterine contractions called afterpains. Lying in a prone position applies pressure to the uterus, stimulating continuous uterine contraction. When the uterus maintains a state of contraction, the afterpains will cease. Ambulation has been shown to decrease muscle pain and should not be avoided. Afterpains are not a symptom of potential postpartum hemorrhage.
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Which pregnant client should the nurse encourage to undergo hepatitis B testing?
- A. A client with a history of cigarette smoking
- B. A client who is a health care worker
- C. A client who emigrated in the past year from Haiti
- D. A client who was recently exposed to Haemophilus influenzae
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Clients from high-prevalence areas like Haiti are at higher risk for hepatitis B, warranting testing during pregnancy.
The nurse prepares the client for which pain management option during labor?
- A. Epidural anesthesia
- B. Hot baths during active labor
- C. Over-the-counter pain relievers
- D. No pain relief options
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Epidural anesthesia is a common and effective pain management option during labor, tailored to the client's needs.
The first-trimester pregnant client asks the nurse if the activities in which she participates are safe in the first trimester. Which activity should the nurse verify as a safe activity during the client’s first trimester?
- A. Hair coloring
- B. Hot tub use
- C. Pesticide use
- D. Sexual activity
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Sexual activity is not contraindicated in pregnancy unless a specific risk factor is identified. Hair coloring should be avoided in the first trimester because the chemicals can be absorbed and pose a risk to the developing fetus. Hot tub use should be avoided because it increases the client’s body temperature. Maternal hyperthermia during the first trimester raises concerns about possible spontaneous abortion, CNS defects, and failure of neural tube closure. Exposure to pesticides during pregnancy increases the risk for preterm birth, intrauterine growth restriction, childhood developmental delays, and infertility later in adulthood.
The nurse is caring for the pregnant client at 20 weeks’ gestation. At what level should the nurse expect to palpate the client’s uterine height?
- A. Two finger-breadths above the symphysis pubis
- B. Halfway between the symphysis pubis and the umbilicus
- C. At the level of the umbilicus
- D. Two finger-breadths above the umbilicus
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: At 20 gestational weeks, the uterus should be at the level of the umbilicus. The uterine height is too low for 20 weeks’ gestation. At 13 weeks, the uterus would be approximately two finger-breadths above the symphysis pubis. The uterine height is too low for 20 weeks’ gestation. At 16 weeks, the uterus would be approximately halfway between the umbilicus and symphysis pubis. The uterine height is too high for 20 weeks’ gestation. At 22 weeks, the uterus would be two finger-breadths above the umbilicus.
The nurse caring for the postpartum client who is 15 years old is concerned about this client’s ability to parent a newborn. Which behavior is characteristic of the developmental level of the 15-year-old that justifies the nurse’s concern?
- A. Developing autonomy
- B. Follows rules established by others
- C. Career oriented
- D. Egocentric
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The development of autonomy is a developmental task of toddlerhood. School-age children are motivated to follow rules established by others. Adult women are concerned about the effect of childbearing on careers. Although it is biologically possible for the adolescent female to become a parent, her egocentricity and concrete thinking interfere with her ability to parent effectively. Because of this normal development, the adolescent may inadvertently neglect her child.