The postpartum client is being discharged to home with a streptococcal puerperal infection. The client is taking antibiotics but asks the nurse what precautions she should take at home to prevent spreading the infection to her husband, newborn, and toddler. Which is the best response by the nurse?
- A. “No precautions are necessary since you are taking antibiotics.”
- B. “You should always wear a mask when caring for your newborn and toddler.”
- C. “Wash your hands before caring for your children and after toileting and perineal care.”
- D. “Your husband should provide all cares for both children until your infection is gone.”
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The course of an endometrial infection is approximately 7 to 10 days, and thus standard precautions should be in place for that period of time even if the client has started antibiotics. Puerperal infections are not spread by droplets, and thus a mask is not necessary. Other than hand hygiene, no additional precautions need to be taken by the client in her home. The client is able to provide cares for her children, but hand washing is required before cares.
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The nurse is teaching the Muslim client how to correctly latch her baby to her breast for breastfeeding. Two student nurses are observing the instruction. Later, the client requests that the nurse not be allowed to provide her postpartum care. What most likely caused the client to be uncomfortable with the nurse?
- A. Muslim women do not want to breastfeed while in the hospital.
- B. Muslim women wait for their milk to come in before they breastfeed.
- C. Muslim women are uncomfortable breastfeeding in public situations.
- D. Muslim women only breastfeed after the infant is given boiled water.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Korean mothers resist breastfeeding in the hospital. Some Asian women believe colostrum is “bad,” and therefore they do not feed until actual breast milk is present. Most Muslim women breastfeed because the Koran encourages it; however, they are uncomfortable about breastfeeding in public situations and prefer privacy. Having two students observing the feeding process most likely would make the client uncomfortable, as she would desire more privacy. Some Asian cultures believe the newborn must be given boiled water until the milk is actually present.
The primigravida client has been pushing for 2 hours when the infant’s head emerges. The infant fails to deliver, and the obstetrician states that the turtle sign has occurred. Which should be the nurse’s interpretation of this information?
- A. There is cephalopelvic disproportion.
- B. The infant has a shoulder dystocia.
- C. The infant’s position is occiput posterior.
- D. The infant’s umbilical cord is prolapsed.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The “turtle sign” occurs when the infant’s head suddenly retracts back against the mother’s perineum after emerging from the vagina, resembling a turtle pulling its head back into its shell. This head retraction is caused by the infant’s anterior shoulder being caught on the back of the maternal pubic bone (shoulder dystocia), preventing delivery of the remainder of the infant. Cephalopelvic disproportion occurs when the head is too large to fit through the client’s pelvis. Fetal descent ceases, and infant’s head would not emerge. Persistent occiput posterior results in prolonged pushing; however, once the head is born, the remainder of the birth occurs without difficulty. A cord prolapse occurs when the umbilical cord enters the cervix before the fetal presenting part and is considered a medical emergency.
The nurse educates the breastfeeding client diagnosed with mastitis. The nurse evaluates that the client has an adequate understanding of how to prevent mastitis in the future when the client makes which statements? Select all that apply.
- A. “Incorrect latch of my baby can lead to mastitis.”
- B. “I should perform hand hygiene before I breastfeed.”
- C. “I should rinse my baby’s mouth before I let her latch.”
- D. “A tight underwire bra has support that prevents mastitis.”
- E. “I should allow my nipples to air-dry after breastfeeding.”
Correct Answer: A,B,E
Rationale: Incorrect latch can cause nipple tissue to blister, crack, and bleed. These breaks in the tissue may serve as an entry point for pathogens. Hand hygiene prior to breastfeeding reduces the number of pathogens available for invasion. While the infant’s nose and throat are sources of pathogenic organisms that might cause mastitis, washing the infant’s mouth would be difficult and would not provide adequate protection for the mother. Wearing a tight bra, especially with an underwire, may restrict milk ducts, providing milk stasis and a medium for pathogenic growth. Allowing breasts to air-dry helps to reduce skin breakdown that might be caused by a moist, wet environment.
The nurse is assessing the laboring client who is morbidly obese. The nurse is unable to determine the fetal position. Which action should be performed by the nurse to obtain the most accurate method of determining fetal position in this client?
- A. Inspect the client’s abdomen.
- B. Palpate the client’s abdomen.
- C. Perform a vaginal examination.
- D. Perform transabdominal ultrasound.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Real-time transabdominal ultrasound (US) is the most accurate assessment measure to determine the fetal position and is frequently available in the birthing setting. US images may be used to assess fetal lie, presentation, and position in the morbidly obese client. Inspection of the abdomen can be used to determine fetal position, but because the client is obese, this is not the most accurate method. Palpation of the abdomen can be used to determine fetal position, but because the client is obese, this is not the most accurate method. Vaginal examination can be used to determine fetal position, but because the client is obese, this is not the most accurate method.
The 22-year-old client, who is experiencing vaginal bleeding in the first trimester of pregnancy, fears that she has lost her baby at 8 weeks. Which definitive test result should indicate to the nurse that the client’s fetus has been lost?
- A. Falling beta human chorionic gonadotropin (BHCG) measurement
- B. Low progesterone measurement
- C. Ultrasound showing a lack of fetal cardiac activity
- D. Ultrasound determining crown-rump length
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Ultrasound is used to determine if the fetus has died. The lack of fetal heart activity in a pregnancy over 6 weeks determines a fetal loss. Falling BHCG levels do not conclusively diagnose fetal demise. Low progesterone levels do not conclusively diagnose fetal demise. Crown-rump length determines only the fetal gestational age.