A nurse is assessing a client for pre-term labor.

Which diagnostic test should the nurse anticipate being ordered for this client?

All of the above.

Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is a condition that affects preterm newborns who have immature lungs and lack sufficient surfactant.

Surfactant is a substance that helps keep the alveoli open and prevents them from collapsing.

Without enough surfactant, the newborn has difficulty breathing and may develop hypoxia and acidosis.

Choice A is wrong because tachypnea and grunting are signs of respiratory distress, but they are not specific to RDS.

They can also be caused by other conditions such as transient tachypnea of the newborn, pneumonia, or congenital heart defects.

Choice B is wrong because bradycardia and cyanosis are also signs of respiratory distress, but they are not specific to RDS.

They can also be caused by other conditions such as hypothermia, hypoglycemia, or sepsis.

Choice C is wrong because apnea and nasal flaring are also signs of respiratory distress, but they are not specific to RDS.

They can also be caused by other conditions such as intracranial ...

Tocolytics are a category of drugs used to delay the labor process.These may be used in situations when a pregnant person begins showing signs of preterm labor —which is any time before 37 weeks of completed pregnancy.Tocolytics may help delay labor by two to seven days.

Some possible explanations for the other choices are:

• Choice A. Administering intravenous fluids.

This is not a correct answer because intravenous fluids are not effective in suppressing uterine contractions.They may be used to correct dehydration or electrolyte imbalance, which can sometimes trigger preterm labor, but they are not a primary intervention for preterm labor.

• Choice C. Administering corticosteroids.

This is not a correct answer because corticosteroids are not tocolytics.They do not stop or slow down uterine contractions, but they help accelerate fetal lung maturity and reduce the risk of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome and other complications of prematurity.

Corticosteroids are often given along with tocolytics, but they have a different function and mechanism of action.

• Choice D. Administering antibiotics.

This is not a correct answer because antibiotics are not tocolytics.They may be used to treat infections that can cause or complicate preterm labor, such as chorioamnionitis or group B streptococcus, but they do not directly affect uterine contractions.

Antibiotics may be given along with tocolytics, but they have a different function.