A nurse is assessing the parenting styles of a family. Which of the following parent statements identify characteristics of authoritarian parenting?

Rationale:

A. Monitor the height and tone of the client's fundus: Assessing uterine fundus is essential postpartum, especially with signs of infection and moderate lochia. Monitoring for firmness, height, and consistency helps identify uterine atony or worsening infection, guiding timely interventions to prevent hemorrhage or complications.

B. Inform the client she will need to formula feed her newborn until she has received antibiotics for 24 hr: Most antibiotics prescribed for postpartum infections, such as clindamycin, are considered compatible with breastfeeding. Advising formula feeding unnecessarily could disrupt breastfeeding without clinical justification.

C. Initiate contact precautions: Postpartum infections like endometritis or mastitis are generally not spread via contact in a hospital setting. Standard precautions, including hand hygiene, are sufficient unless a specific transmissible pathogen is identified.

D. Instruct the client to wash her hands before and after changing her perineal pad: Hand hygiene prevents the spread of infection and reduces the risk of secondary infections. Teaching proper handwashing is an essential standard precaution for clients with postpartum infections.

E. Obtain a culture specimen of the lochia from the client's perineal pad using a sterile swab: Routine cultures of lochia are not indicated unless there is suspicion of an unusual pathogen or worsening infection. Assessment and empiric antibiotics are standard for postpartum endometritis based on clinical findings.

F. Encourage the client to maintain a semi-Fowler's position to enhance uterine drainage: Semi-Fowler’s positioning promotes uterine drainage, reduces stasis of lochia, and supports comfort. This position aids in preventing complications such as uterine infection or retention of lochia.

G. Request a prescription for terbutaline from the provider: Terbutaline is a tocolytic used to suppress preterm labor. It is not indicated for postpartum infection, uterine atony, or lochia management and is not appropriate in this scenario.

Rationale:

A. Place a pillow under the client's knees when changing positions: Elevating the knees with a pillow may be appropriate for comfort, but in a client with a thoracic spine injury, this can alter spinal alignment and increase the risk of further injury. Maintaining proper spinal alignment during all movements is more important than knee elevation.

B. Use a sheet when repositioning the client onto his side: Using a sheet for logrolling or turning helps maintain spinal alignment and allows multiple caregivers to move the client safely as a unit. This technique minimizes rotation or flexion of the spine, which is critical in preventing further spinal cord injury in clients with thoracic spine trauma.

C. Apply an immobilizing collar on the client prior to movement: Cervical collars are used for cervical spine injuries, not thoracic spine injuries. Applying a collar would not stabilize the thoracic spine and could give a false sense of security while performing repositioning.

D. Instruct the client to keep his arms at his side when altering positions: The client may need to assist in turning if possible, and keeping the arms rigidly at the side is not necessary. Restricting arm movement does not ensure spinal safety and may limit the client’s ability to participate safely in repositioning.