A client who is at full-term gestation is in active labor and complains of a cramp in her leg.
Which intervention should the practical nurse (PN) implement?
Massage the calf and foot.
Extend the leg and flex the foot.
Check the pedal pulse in the affected leg.
Elevate the leg above the heart.
None
None
The Correct Answer is B
The correct answer is B. Extend the leg and flex the foot.
Choice A rationale:
Massaging the calf and foot is not recommended as it could potentially dislodge a blood clot if one is present, which can be dangerous.
Choice B rationale:
Extending the leg and flexing the foot helps to relieve the cramp by stretching the muscles involved. This is a safe and effective method to alleviate muscle cramps.
Choice C rationale:
Checking the pedal pulse in the affected leg is important for assessing circulation but does not directly address the immediate discomfort of the cramp.
Choice D rationale:
Elevating the leg above the heart is generally used to reduce swelling and improve circulation but is not specifically effective for relieving muscle cramps.
: 3
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
The correct answer is choiceB. Verify completion of all new prescriptions. This task is crucial to ensure patient safety and proper medication administration.
Choice A rationale:
Clean up and organize the nurses’ workstation: While maintaining an organized workstation is important for efficiency and reducing stress, it is not the highest priority task. Patient safety and care tasks take precedence over organizational tasks.
Choice B rationale:
Verify completion of all new prescriptions: This is the highest priority because verifying new prescriptions ensures that patients receive the correct medications as prescribed by their healthcare providers.This step is critical to prevent medication errors, which can have serious or even fatal consequences. Ensuring the accuracy of medication orders directly impacts patient safety and care quality.
Choice C rationale:
Calculate and record intake and output totals: Monitoring and recording intake and output is important for assessing a patient’s fluid balance and overall health status. However, this task can be delegated to another team member and does not take precedence over verifying medication orders, which is more time-sensitive and directly related to patient safety.
Choice D rationale:
Write a narrative shift summary for each client: Documenting a shift summary is essential for continuity of care and communication between healthcare providers. However, this task can be completed after ensuring that all critical patient care tasks, such as verifying new prescriptions, are addressed first.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale: While it is important to monitor the fetal heart rate, it does not directly address the client's immediate need to empty her bladder.
Choice B rationale: Obtaining a straight catheter kit to empty her bladder could be considered if the client is unable to void on her own, but it is not the first line of action if the client is able to ambulate.
Choice C rationale: Checking the perineum for changes in "show" or discharge is part of ongoing labor monitoring, but it does not address the client's immediate request.
Choice D rationale: Assisting the client up to the bathroom is appropriate. Ambulating to the bathroom is safe given the unchanged vaginal exam, and allowing the client to empty her bladder can help maintain bladder function and comfort.
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