A nurse in a prenatal clinic is caring for a client. Using Leopold maneuvers, the nurse palpates a round, firm, moveable part in the fundus of the Uterus and a long, smooth surface on the client's right side, in which abdominal quadrant should the nurse expect to auscultate fetal heart tones?

Choice A Reason:

Placing the client in a supine position for 30 minutes following the first dose of anesthetic solution is not a standard recommendation. The positioning during epidural placement is typically a seated or side-lying position.

Choice B Reason:

Administering 1,000 mL of dextrose 5% in water prior to the first dose of anesthetic solution is not a standard practice for epidural anesthesi

A. Fluids may be administered, but the type and volume depend on the patient's individual needs and the healthcare provider's orders.

Choice C Reason:

Monitoring the client's blood pressure every minute following the first dose of anesthetic solution is appropriate. Epidural anesthesia can potentially cause hypotension (low blood pressure), which is a common side effect. Therefore, close monitoring of the client's blood pressure is crucial, especially following the administration of the initial dose of the anesthetic solution. The goal is to promptly detect and manage any decrease in blood pressure to ensure the well-being of both the mother and the baby.

Choice D Reason:

Ensuring the client has been NPO (nothing by mouth) for 4 hours prior to the placement of the epidural and the first dose of anesthetic solution is not a specific requirement for epidural anesthesi

A. NPO status is more relevant to surgical procedures involving general anesthesia and is not typically a strict requirement for epidural placement.

A. Administering oxygen at 10 L/min via a nonrebreather mask is an important intervention, but changing the client's position is the priority action when late decelerations are observed. Oxygen administration can follow, but optimizing uteroplacental perfusion through changing position is crucial.

B. Changing the client's position is the correct first action.

Repositioning the client, particularly from a supine to a side-lying position, can help alleviate compression on the vena cava and improve blood flow to the uterus, reducing the likelihood of late decelerations.

C. Applying a fetal scalp electrode is not the initial action when late decelerations are noted. Repositioning the client should be attempted first to address potential issues related to uteroplacental perfusion.

D. Increasing the rate of the intravenous (IV) infusion might not directly address the issue of late decelerations. It's important to focus on maternal positioning first to improve blood flow to the uterus.