A nurse is administering corticosteroids to a client with severe pre-eclampsia who is 32 weeks pregnant.
What is the main purpose of giving corticosteroids to this client?
To reduce inflammation
To prevent infection
To accelerate fetal lung maturity
To increase platelet count
The Correct Answer is C
To accelerate fetal lung maturity. Corticosteroids are given to pregnant women with severe pre-eclampsia who are at risk of preterm delivery to help the development of the fetus’s lungs and reduce the risk of respiratory distress syndrome.
This can improve the survival and health outcomes of the newborn.
Choice A is wrong because corticosteroids do not reduce inflammation in pre-eclampsia. They are used for other inflammatory conditions such as asthma or arthritis.
Choice B is wrong because corticosteroids do not prevent infection in pre-eclampsia. They can actually increase the risk of infection by suppressing the immune system.
Choice D is wrong because corticosteroids do not increase platelet count in pre-eclampsia. They can actually decrease the platelet count by causing thrombocytopenia.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["A","B","C","E"]
Explanation
The correct answer is choice A, B, C and E.The nurse should monitor the client’s deep tendon reflexes hourly because magnesium sulfate can cause neuromuscular blockade and decreased reflexes.The nurse should keep calcium gluconate readily available because it is the antidote for magnesium toxicity.The nurse should maintain a urine output of at least 40 mL/hr because magnesium is excreted by the kidneys and low urine output can indicate renal impairment or fluid overload.The nurse should check the client’s blood pressure every 15 minutes because magnesium sulfate can cause hypotension and preeclampsia can cause hypertension.
Choice D is wrong because the medication should not be infused via a peripheral IV line, but rather through a central line or a large-bore IV catheter to prevent tissue damage.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
This indicates that the client has respiratory depression, which is a sign of magnesium toxicity.Magnesium sulfate is given to prevent and treat seizures in clients with eclampsia, but it can also cause adverse effects such as hypotension, decreased urine output, absent or diminished reflexes, and cardiac arrest.
Choice B is wrong because urine output of 50 mL/hr is within the normal range and does not indicate magnesium toxicity.The nurse should monitor the client’s urine output closely and report any decrease below 30 mL/hr.
Choice C is wrong because serum magnesium level of 6 mg/dL is within the therapeutic range of 4 to 7 mg/dL for clients receiving magnesium sulfate.The nurse should monitor the client’s serum magnesium level regularly and report any increase above 8 mg/dL, which indicates toxicity.
Choice D is wrong because patellar reflex of 2+ is normal and does not indicate magnesium toxicity.The nurse should assess the client’s deep tendon reflexes frequently and report any decrease or absence of reflexes, which indicates toxicity.
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