What is the purpose of initiating contractions in a contraction stress test (CST)?
- A. Increase placental blood flow.
- B. Identify fetal acceleration patterns.
- C. Determine the degree of fetal activity.
- D. Apply a stressful stimulus to the fetus.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The CST assesses fetal response to the stress of uterine contractions to determine if the fetus can tolerate labor.
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A woman in labor begins to experience a sudden increase in vaginal bleeding and the fetal heart rate decelerates. What is the likely cause of these symptoms?
- A. Placenta previa
- B. Placental abruption
- C. Uterine rupture
- D. Cervical laceration
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Placental abruption. Placental abruption is the premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall, leading to vaginal bleeding and fetal distress. The sudden increase in bleeding and fetal heart rate deceleration are hallmark signs of placental abruption. Placenta previa (choice A) involves bleeding without fetal distress. Uterine rupture (choice C) typically presents with severe abdominal pain and shock. Cervical laceration (choice D) would not cause fetal heart rate deceleration.
What complication is associated with pica during pregnancy?
- A. Hypothyroidism
- B. Iron-deficiency anemia
- C. Hypercalcemia
- D. Overexposure to zinc
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Pica often leads to nutritional deficiencies, particularly iron-deficiency anemia, due to the ingestion of non-food substances.
A client is 15 weeks pregnant. She calls the obstetric office to request a medication for a headache. The nurse answers the telephone. Which of the following is the nurse’s best response?
- A. Because the organ systems in the baby are developing right now, it is risky to take medicine.
- B. You can take any of the over-the-counter medications because they are all safe in pregnancy.
- C. The physician will prescribe a category 'X' medication for you.
- D. You can take acetaminophen because it is a category 'B' medicine.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Acetaminophen is a category 'B' medication, which is considered safe during pregnancy. Other over-the-counter medications may not be safe, and category 'X' medications are contraindicated.
A woman, 26-weeks’ gestation, calls the triage nurse stating, 'I’m really scared. I tried not to but I had an orgasm when we were making love. I just know that I will go into preterm labor now.'
- A. Lie down and drink a quart of water. If you feel any back pressure at all call me back right away.
- B. Although oxytocin was responsible for your orgasm it is very unlikely that it will stimulate preterm labor.
- C. I will inform the doctor for you. What I want you to do is to come to the hospital right now to be checked.
- D. The best thing for you to do right now is to take a warm shower and then do a fetal kick count assessment.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Oxytocin released during orgasm does not typically trigger preterm labor. Reassurance is appropriate unless there are other risk factors present.
A 40-week pregnant woman is admitted to the labor and delivery unit and is in active labor. Her cervix is 8 cm dilated, and she is experiencing strong contractions. What is the next priority action?
- A. Administer an epidural block
- B. Perform a vaginal examination to assess fetal descent
- C. Assess the fetal heart rate
- D. Prepare for delivery
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Assess the fetal heart rate. This is the next priority action because monitoring the fetal heart rate is crucial to ensure the well-being of the baby during labor. It helps in identifying any signs of fetal distress and guides the healthcare provider in making timely interventions to prevent complications. Administering an epidural block (choice A) can be considered later once the fetal well-being is ensured. Performing a vaginal examination (choice B) may not be necessary at this moment as the woman is already in active labor and has progressed to 8 cm dilation. Preparing for delivery (choice D) should only be done after assessing the fetal well-being to ensure a safe delivery.