The nurse teaches the client to recognize which early labor sign?
- A. Bloody show
- B. Fatigue
- C. Increased appetite
- D. Mild nausea
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Bloody show, a mucous discharge tinged with blood, is a common early labor sign as the cervix begins to dilate.
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The nurse is caring for the client in preterm labor who has gestational diabetes. The nurse determines that the client has a reactive NST when which findings are noted?
- A. Two fetal heart rate (FHR) accelerations of 15 beats per minute (bpm) above baseline for at least 15 seconds in a 20-minute period
- B. An FHR acceleration of 15 bpm above baseline for at least 10 seconds in the 40-minute time period for the NST
- C. Two FHR accelerations of 20 bpm above baseline when the mother changes position during the 20-minute NST
- D. The occurrence of at least three mild repetitive variable decelerations in the 20-minute time period for the NST
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The FHR is monitored by the placement of an electronic fetal monitor that has an ultrasound transducer to record the FHR and a tocodynamometer to detect uterine or fetal movement. The client is given a handheld marker to indicate when she feels fetal movement. Fetal movement is accompanied by an increase in the FHR in the healthy fetus. The criterion for a reactive (normal) NST is the presence of two FHR accelerations of 15 bpm above baseline lasting 15 seconds or longer in a 20-minute period. One FHR acceleration during a 40-minute period is insufficient and indicates a nonreactive (abnormal) NST. Maternal movement can cause an inconsistency in the FHR on the monitor strip and should be avoided during an NST. The occurrence of at least three mild repetitive variable decelerations in a 20-minute period describes a nonreactive (abnormal) NST and fetal intolerance.
The nurse correctly instructs the client to drink how many glasses of milk per day to meet calcium requirements?
- A. 1 to 2
- B. 3 to 4
- C. 5 to 6
- D. 7 to 8
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Three to four glasses of milk daily provide approximately 1200 mg of calcium, meeting pregnancy requirements.
The client, who delivered a 4200-g baby 4 hours ago, continues to have bright red, heavy vaginal bleeding. The nurse assesses the client’s fundus and finds it to be firm and midway between the symphysis pubis and umbilicus. What should the nurse do next?
- A. Continue to monitor the client’s bleeding and weigh the peripads.
- B. Call the client’s HCP and request an additional visual examination.
- C. Prepare to give oxytocin to stimulate uterine muscle contraction.
- D. Document the findings as normal with no interventions needed at that time.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Although the nurse would definitely need to continue to monitor the amount and quality of bleeding, additional intervention is also needed. The nurse should consider the possibility of a vaginal wall or cervical laceration, which could produce heavy, bright red bleeding. The HCP should be notified and asked to perform a visual exam of the vagina to assess for possible lacerations in need of repair. Preparing to administer oxytocin (Pitocin) would be appropriate if the source of bleeding was suspected to be uterine atony, but the uterus is firm and in the expected location. Documenting the findings without further intervention would lead to a failure to identify the source of increased bleeding resulting in possible client injury. Further assessments and interventions are needed.
The postpartum client suffered a fourth-degree perineal laceration during her vaginal birth. Which interventions should the nurse add to the client’s plan of care? Select all that apply.
- A. Limit ambulation to bathroom privileges only.
- B. Decrease fluid intake to 1000 mL every 24 hours.
- C. Instruct the client on a high-fiber diet.
- D. Monitor the uterus for firmness every 2 hours.
- E. Give pm prescribed stool softeners in the am. and at h.s.
Correct Answer: C,E
Rationale: Activity should be increased, not decreased, to reduce the potential for constipation. Fluids should be increased, not decreased, to reduce the potential for dehydration and constipation. The client with a fourth-degree perineal laceration should be instructed to increase dietary fiber to help maintain bowel continence and decrease perineal trauma from constipation. A perineal laceration will not affect the condition of the uterus; there is no need to increase uterine monitoring. The client with a fourth-degree perineal laceration should be given a stool softener bid to help maintain bowel continence and decrease perineal trauma from constipation.
The postpartum client delivered a healthy newborn 36 hours previously. The nurse finds the client crying and asks what is wrong. The client replies, “Nothing, really. I’m not in pain or anything, but I just seem to cry a lot for no reason.” What should be the nurse’s first intervention?
- A. Call the client’s support person to come and sit with her.
- B. Remind her that she has a healthy baby and that she shouldn’t be crying.
- C. Contact the HCP to have the counselor come see the client.
- D. Ask the client to discuss her birth experience.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The client’s support person should be given information about postpartum blues before the client is discharged from the hospital. However, contacting that individual should not be the first intervention. Reminding the client that she has a healthy baby is a nontherapeutic communication technique that implies disapproval of the client’s actions. There is no need to notify the HCP, as postpartum blues is a common self-limiting postpartum occurrence. A key feature of postpartum blues is episodic tearfulness without an identifiable reason. Interventions for postpartum blues include allowing the client to relive her birth experience.