A nurse has assessed a patient in labor.
The patient’s cervix is dilated 4 cm and 100% effaced.
The fetus is in the vertex presentation at -1 station.
The patient is walking to the bathroom and experiences a spontaneous rupture of membranes.
What is the nurse’s priority action?

Choice A rationale

Quickening is the sensation of fetal movement by the pregnant woman. It usually occurs between 16 and 20 weeks of gestation.

Choice B rationale

Hegar’s sign is a probable sign of pregnancy that is characterized by the compressibility and softening of the cervical isthmus, which is the portion of the cervix between the uterus and the vaginal portion of the cervix. This sign typically presents between the fourth and sixth week of pregnancy. Therefore, if the nurse identifies a probable sign indicating the softening of the lower uterine segment, it is likely that the nurse has observed Hegar’s sign.

Choice C rationale

Braxton Hicks contractions are intermittent uterine contractions that occur during pregnancy. They are not a sign of labor and do not lead to cervical dilation or effacement. Therefore, they would not indicate the softening of the lower uterine segment.

Choice D rationale

Ballottement is a technique of palpating a floating structure by bouncing it and feeling it rebound. In the context of pregnancy, it refers to the movement of the fetus when the uterus is tapped during a pelvic examination. This does not indicate the softening of the lower uterine segment.

Choice A rationale

Asking the partner to talk about his difficulties in caring for the client is the nurse’s priority. This intervention allows the nurse to assess the partner’s emotional state and provide appropriate support and resources.

Choice B rationale

Recommending that the partner place the client in a long-term care facility may not be the best initial intervention. The decision to place a loved one in a long-term care facility is complex and involves many factors. The nurse should first assess the partner’s needs and concerns before making such a recommendation.

Choice C rationale

Telling the partner to call a family meeting to get help may be a helpful suggestion, but it is not the nurse’s priority. The nurse should first assess the partner’s emotional state and needs before suggesting specific interventions.

Choice D rationale

Suggesting that the partner see a counselor to help him cope with his exhaustion may be a helpful intervention, but it is not the nurse’s priority. The nurse should first assess the partner’s emotional state and needs before suggesting specific interventions.