A 23-year-old primigravida who appears to be in her third trimester of pregnancy comes to the labor and delivery unit reporting acute abdominal pain. She has had no prenatal care. Which assessment should the nurse do first?

Obtain a full history.

Examine the cervix for dilation

Examine the cervix for dilation.

Palpate for uterine contraction frequency

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

This is because the first priority for a pregnant woman with acute abdominal pain is to assess the fetal well-being and rule out any obstetric complications such as placental abruption, uterine rupture, or preterm labor. Fetal heart tones can indicate the presence and viability of the fetus and alert the nurse to any signs of fetal distress or hypoxia.

Choice A: Obtain a full history is wrong because it is not the most urgent action.

A full history can provide valuable information about the possible causes of abdominal pain, but it should not delay the assessment of fetal status and maternal vital signs.

Choice B: Examine the cervix for dilation is wrong because it can be harmful in some cases. A digital cervical examination should be avoided until placenta previa is ruled out by ultrasound, as it can cause bleeding and worsen the condition.

Moreover, cervical dilation alone does not indicate the cause or severity of abdominal pain.

Choice D: Palpate for uterine contraction frequency is wrong because it is not the most reliable method to assess labor. Uterine contractions can be measured by external tocodynamometry or internal intrauterine pressure catheter, which can provide more accurate and objective data than manual palpation.

Furthermore, uterine contractions do not necessarily indicate labor, as they can also be caused by other conditions such as dehydration, infection, or irritable uterus.

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

The correct answer is choice A.Making a loud sound within close range of the newborn will elicit the Moro reflex, which is an involuntary protective motor response against abrupt disruption of body balance or extremely sudden stimulation.The Moro reflex involves three distinct components: spreading out the arms (abduction), pulling the arms in (adduction), and crying (usually).

Choice B is wrong because firmly stroking the soles of the newborn’s feet with a thumb nail will elicit the Babinski reflex, which is a normal response in infants that involves fanning out and curling of the toes.

Choice C is wrong because using the newborn’s hands to raise the baby from a supine position without supporting the head will elicit the traction response, which is a normal response in infants that involves flexion of the elbows and shoulders.

Choice D is wrong because holding the newborn in an upright position so that the infant’s feet touch a cool, flat surface will elicit the stepping reflex, which is a normal response in infants that involves alternating steps with each foot.

A. A 23-year-old primigravida with a history of endometriosis. B. A 40-year-old multigravida with a history of condyloma acuminata. C. A 27-year-old primigravida with a bicornuate uterus. D. A 36-year-old multigravida who has had two previous cesarean deliveries.

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

The correct answer is choice A. A 23-year-old primigravida with a history of endometriosis.Endometriosis is a condition where the tissue that normally lines the uterus grows outside of it, sometimes affecting the fallopian tubes.This can cause scarring and damage to the tubes, which can increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy.

Choice B is wrong because condyloma acuminata, also known as genital warts, are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.HPV infection does not directly increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy, although it may be associated with other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) that can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which is a risk factor.

Choice C is wrong because a bicornuate uterus is a congenital anomaly where the uterus has two horns or chambers instead of one.This does not affect the fallopian tubes or the implantation of the fertilized egg in the uterus.

Choice D is wrong because previous cesarean deliveries do not increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy.However, previous tubal surgery, such as tubal ligation or salpingectomy, can damage the fallopian tubes and increase the risk.

Other risk factors for ectopic pregnancy include previous ectopic pregnancy, smoking, age older than 35 years, history of infertility, and use of assisted reproductive technology.

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A 23-year-old primigravida who appears to be in her third trimester of pregnancy comes to the labor and delivery unit reporting acute abdominal pain. She has had no prenatal care. Which assessment should the nurse do first?

Nursing Test Bank

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

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