A nurse is assisting with the care of a client who is using paced breathing during the first stage of labor.
The client says she feels lightheaded and her fingers are tingling.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Assist the client to breathe into a paper bag or cupped hand.
Instruct the client to maintain a breathing rate no less than twice the normal rate.
Have the client tuck her chin to her chest.
Administer oxygen via nasal cannula.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale:
The client is experiencing symptoms that suggest hyperventilation due to paced breathing, which can lead to respiratory alkalosis. Breathing into a paper bag or cupped hand allows the client to rebreathe carbon dioxide and helps correct the alkalosis by increasing the carbon dioxide levels in the blood. This is a common intervention for clients experiencing lightheadedness and tingling in the fingers due to hyperventilation.
Choice B rationale:
Instructing the client to maintain a breathing rate no less than twice the normal rate is not appropriate in this situation. It can worsen the client's symptoms and may lead to further hyperventilation. This choice does not address the underlying problem of respiratory alkalosis.
Choice C rationale:
Having the client tuck her chin to her chest is not the correct action for these symptoms. This maneuver is typically used to relieve supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) or vagal stimulation in situations of rapid heart rate. It is not relevant to the client's lightheadedness and tingling fingers.
Choice D rationale:
Administering oxygen via nasal cannula is not indicated in this case. The client's symptoms are not suggestive of hypoxemia, but rather, they are related to respiratory alkalosis. Providing oxygen could potentially worsen the condition by reducing carbon dioxide levels further.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
When a pregnant client is Rh negative and the newborn is Rh positive, it can lead to Rh incompatibility issues. This occurs when fetal Rh-positive red blood cells enter the maternal circulation during pregnancy or childbirth, causing the mother's immune system to produce antibodies against Rh-positive blood cells. To prevent Rh sensitization, Rho(D) immune globulin is administered to Rh-negative pregnant clients at specific times during pregnancy and postpartum. This administration is essential to prevent hemolytic disease of the newborn in future pregnancies. The Rho(D) immune globulin prevents the mother's immune system from developing antibodies against Rh-positive blood cells, ensuring that the current pregnancy and future pregnancies remain safe. Therefore, choice A is the correct answer.
Choice B rationale:
If the client is Rh positive and the newborn is Rh positive, there is no need for Rho(D) immune globulin administration. Rh incompatibility issues only occur when the mother is Rh negative, and the newborn is Rh positive. Therefore, choice B is not the correct answer.
Choice C rationale:
When both the client and the newborn are Rh negative, there is no risk of Rh incompatibility, and therefore, Rho(D) immune globulin administration is unnecessary. This situation is not a reason to administer Rho(D) immune globulin. Choice C is not the correct answer.
Choice D rationale:
If the client is Rh positive and the newborn is Rh negative, there is no risk of Rh incompatibility, and Rho(D) immune globulin administration is not required in this scenario. Choice D is not the correct answer.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
This test will screen for ABO incompatibility. This statement is inaccurate. Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) determination is not used to screen for ABO incompatibility. ABO incompatibility is a different concern that involves the mother's and baby's blood types, and it is not assessed through MSAFP testing.
Choice B rationale:
This test will screen for fetal maturity. MSAFP determination does not assess fetal maturity. The purpose of this test is to screen for specific congenital abnormalities, such as neural tube defects and chromosomal abnormalities, not to determine fetal maturity.
Choice C rationale:
This test will screen for neural tube defects. This is the correct choice. Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) determination is primarily used to screen for neural tube defects in the developing fetus. It measures the level of alpha-fetoprotein in the mother's blood, and elevated levels can indicate a higher risk of neural tube defects.
Choice D rationale:
This test will screen for gestational diabetes. MSAFP testing is not used to screen for gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes is typically screened for through glucose tolerance tests or other specific tests designed to diagnose diabetes during pregnancy.
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