A community health nurse is performing a home visit for a client and is evaluating the home environment for safety. Which of the following findings would indicate to the nurse that the client has a proper understanding of safety in the home?

Rationale

A. Perform a vaginal examination every 12 hr: Vaginal examinations should be avoided in a client with severe preeclampsia unless delivery is imminent, as they can stimulate uterine activity and increase the risk of placental abruption. Continuous monitoring and noninvasive assessments are prioritized instead.

B. Administer betamethasone: Betamethasone promotes fetal lung maturity by stimulating surfactant production when preterm delivery before 34 weeks is anticipated. This reduces the risk of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome and intraventricular hemorrhage.

C. Provide a low-stimulation environment: A quiet, dimly lit environment helps minimize CNS stimulation, reducing the risk of seizure activity in clients with severe preeclampsia. Environmental stressors such as bright lights and loud noises should be avoided.

D. Maintain bed rest: Bed rest, particularly in the left lateral position, improves uteroplacental perfusion and reduces blood pressure by minimizing pressure on the vena cava. It also helps limit activity that could elevate BP further.

E. Obtain a 24-hr urine specimen: Collecting a 24-hour urine specimen allows accurate assessment of total protein excretion, which confirms the severity of preeclampsia. Proteinuria greater than 300 mg/24 hr indicates significant renal involvement.

F. Give antihypertensive medication: Antihypertensives such as labetalol or hydralazine help prevent maternal complications like stroke or heart failure from sustained severe hypertension while avoiding excessive BP reduction that could impair uteroplacental blood flow.

G. Monitor intake and output hourly: Close monitoring of intake and output detects early signs of renal compromise or fluid overload, which are common in preeclampsia. Accurate measurement helps guide safe fluid management and prevent pulmonary edema.

Rationale:
A. Decreased serum uric acid: In preeclampsia, serum uric acid levels are elevated, not decreased, due to reduced renal clearance and tissue ischemia. Increased uric acid is often one of the earliest laboratory indicators of preeclampsia.

B. Increased protein in urine: Proteinuria is a key diagnostic feature of preeclampsia resulting from glomerular endothelial damage that increases permeability to proteins. The presence of protein in the urine reflects kidney involvement and helps distinguish preeclampsia from gestational hypertension.

C. Increased platelet count: Preeclampsia is typically associated with thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) due to platelet aggregation and consumption within damaged blood vessels. An increased platelet count would not be expected in this condition.

D. Decreased BUN: In preeclampsia, renal perfusion is reduced, leading to elevated BUN and creatinine levels. A decrease in BUN would indicate improved kidney function, which is inconsistent with the pathophysiology of preeclampsia.