A nurse is assessing a client who is at 38 weeks of gestation.
Upon admission 2 hours ago, the client had irregular contractions, was dilated 2 cm, and was at -1 cm station. Which of the following findings indicates progression in labor?
The client's contractions persist with walking.
The client reports urinary frequency.
The client has increased blood-tinged vaginal mucus.
The client's station is at -3 cm.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale
True labor contractions persist and often intensify with activity, such as walking, because physical exertion promotes the release of oxytocin. In contrast, Braxton Hicks or false labor contractions typically diminish or cease with ambulation. Therefore, contractions persisting with walking indicate the cervical changes characteristic of progression into the active phase of labor.
Choice B rationale
Urinary frequency is a common discomfort throughout the third trimester of pregnancy due to the pressure of the enlarged uterus on the bladder. While present, it is not a specific indicator of the progression of labor from the latent to the active phase, which is characterized by measurable changes in cervical dilation and effacement.
Choice C rationale
Increased blood-tinged vaginal mucus, known as "bloody show," results from the cervical capillaries breaking as the cervix effaces and dilates. While this indicates cervical change, the most definitive sign of labor progression is a change in the frequency, duration, and intensity of contractions coupled with measurable descent or cervical dilation increase.
Choice D rationale
The station is the relationship of the presenting part to the ischial spines (zero station). The client's initial station was -1 cm. A change to -3 cm station indicates the fetus has moved up and away from the ischial spines, which signifies regression, or higher negative numbers, in the engagement, not the desired progression into the maternal pelvis.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Migraine with aura is considered a Category 4 contraindication (unacceptable health risk) for the use of combined hormonal contraceptives (CHCs), including oral contraceptives. The estrogen component in CHCs increases the risk of ischemic stroke, and this risk is substantially amplified in clients who experience migraine headaches with focal neurological symptoms (aura), necessitating the selection of an alternative birth control method.
Choice B rationale
Hypotension (low blood pressure) is typically not a contraindication for oral contraceptive use. In fact, some studies suggest a potential, though often clinically insignificant, increase in blood pressure with CHC use due to a potential increase in circulating angiotensinogen, the precursor to the vasoconstrictive hormone angiotensin II. The use of CHCs is not restricted based on hypotension.
Choice C rationale
Dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation) is often significantly improved or resolved by the use of combined oral contraceptives (COCs). COCs work by suppressing ovulation and thinning the endometrial lining, which typically reduces prostaglandin production, thus decreasing the cramping and pain associated with the menstrual cycle, making it an indication, not a contraindication.
Choice D rationale
A history of ovarian cysts is generally not a contraindication for combined oral contraceptive use, provided the cysts were non-malignant and resolved or are benign. In fact, COCs can be used to treat or prevent the recurrence of functional ovarian cysts by suppressing the hormonal stimulation of the ovaries that leads to their formation, making it a potential therapeutic benefit.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Hydrotherapy, like immersion in a tub or shower, is a nonpharmacological comfort measure for labor pain management. The therapeutic temperature of the water should indeed be maintained between 36 to 37°C (about 96.8 to 98.6°F). This range ensures the water is comfortably warm, promoting muscle relaxation, reducing pain perception, and avoiding potential maternal hyperthermia or fetal distress due to extreme temperatures.
Choice B rationale
Counterpressure is a technique used to relieve back pain caused by pressure of the fetal occiput against the sacrum, commonly known as "back labor.”. It involves steady, strong pressure applied by a support person to the sacral area or lower back, not the upper abdomen. Applying pressure to the upper abdomen would be ineffective and potentially uncomfortable for the client.
Choice C rationale
Effleurage is a light, rhythmic, stroking massage, often applied to the abdomen, used primarily during contractions in the first stage of labor to promote relaxation and distract from pain. It is generally not used during the pushing phase (second stage), as the client's focus shifts to bearing down and expelling the fetus, making effleurage distracting and ineffective.
Choice D rationale
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) involves applying mild electrical currents via electrodes to the skin. During labor, the electrodes are typically placed on the lower back (sacral area) to block pain signals related to contractions as they travel up the spinal cord. Applying the TENS unit to the lower abdomen is not the standard placement for optimal labor pain relief.
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