A laboring client has a variable deceleration on the fetal monitor.
What is the first action that the nurse should take?
Administer oxygen via facemask.
Turn off the oxytocin infusion.
Change the client’s position.
Assess cervical dilatation.
Assess cervical dilatation.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale
Administering oxygen via a facemask is an intervention that can be used if the baby shows signs of distress or if the decelerations do not improve with other interventions. However, it is not the first action that should be taken.
Choice B rationale
Turning off the oxytocin infusion could be an appropriate action if the mother is receiving oxytocin and the baby is showing signs of distress. However, it is not the first action that should be taken.
Choice C rationale
Changing the client’s position is the correct first action for variable decelerations. This can relieve potential cord compression and improve fetal oxygenation.
Choice D rationale
Assessing cervical dilation is an important part of monitoring labor progress, but it is not the first action that should be taken in response to variable decelerations.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Placenta previa is a condition where the placenta covers the cervix, which can cause painless bleeding, not severe abdominal pain.
Choice B rationale
Oligohydramnios refers to a condition where there is less amniotic fluid around the baby in the womb. It does not typically cause severe abdominal pain.
Choice C rationale
Abruptio placenta is a serious condition where the placenta detaches from the uterus before the baby is born. It can cause severe abdominal pain and a rigid abdomen, which matches the symptoms described.
Choice D rationale
Chorioamnionitis is an infection of the membranes surrounding the fetus and the amniotic fluid. It typically presents with fever and increased heart rate, not necessarily severe abdominal pain and a rigid abdomen.
Correct Answer is ["-"]
Explanation
Step 1: The patient’s vital signs are as follows: Temperature 100.4° F (38° C) orally, Heart rate 86 beats/minute, Respiratory rate 16 breaths/minute, Blood pressure 102/12 mm Hg, Pain 4 on a 0 to 10 pain scale.
Step 2: She was assisted to the bathroom where she voided 150 mL of clear yellow urine. Lochia rubra is moderate with small clots, no foul odor noted. The fundus is firm at the umbilicus. The episiotomy edges are well approximated, with no redness, edema, drainage, or ecchymosis. There is no pain, redness, or swelling in the calves.
Step 3: A 1,000 mL bag of lactated Ringer’s solution containing 10 units of oxytocin is infusing via an 18-gauge peripheral IV in the left forearm at 125 mL per hour, with 500 mL remaining in the bag. The IV is patent, without redness or swelling, and can be discontinued when this bag’s infusion is complete.
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