A nurse is caring for a 28-year-old female client who is at 12 weeks of gestation and has been admitted to the emergency department with excessive vomiting for the past 48 hours. The client has lost 2.3 kg (5 lb) over 2 days.

Exhibits

The nurse is assessing the client 24 hours later. How should the nurse interpret the findings 24 hours later? For each finding, click to specify whether the finding is unrelated to the diagnosis, a sign of potential improvement, or a sign of potential worsening.

Choice A rationale
Amniotic fluid embolism is a life-threatening emergency that can lead to cardiac and respiratory failure. Immediate initiation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is crucial to maintain circulation and oxygenation.
Choice B rationale
Ephedrine is not typically used in the management of amniotic fluid embolism. It is a vasopressor used to treat hypotension, but it is not the primary intervention in this situation.
Choice C rationale
Assessing for the presence of clonus is not relevant in this situation. Clonus is a neurological sign and is not directly related to amniotic fluid embolism.
Choice D rationale
Assisting the client to empty their bladder is not a priority action in this situation. The immediate concern is maintaining the client’s airway, breathing, and circulation.

Choice A rationale: A positive Coombs test indicates that the newborn has antibodies against his own red blood cells, which can lead to hemolytic disease of the newborn. This condition can cause severe anemia and jaundice, which can lead to complications such as kernicterus if not treated promptly.

Choice B rationale: The newborn’s glucose level is within the normal range (40 to 60 mg/dL), so this finding does not require immediate follow-up.

Choice C rationale: The yellow color of the sclera indicates jaundice, which can be a sign of hyperbilirubinemia. This condition can lead to complications such as kernicterus if bilirubin levels become too high.

Choice D rationale: The absence of meconium stool in a 36-hour-old newborn is unusual, as most newborns pass meconium within the first 24 to 48 hours after birth. This could indicate a problem such as meconium ileus or Hirschsprung disease, which would require further evaluation.

Choice E rationale: The head assessment finding of caput succedaneum is a common and typically harmless condition in newborns caused by pressure on the head during delivery. It does not require immediate follow-up.

Choice F rationale: The newborn’s heart rate is slightly elevated (normal range for a newborn is 120-160 beats per minute). This could be a response to factors such as fever, pain, or distress, and should be reported to the provider.

Choice G rationale: The newborn’s respiratory rate is also elevated (normal range for a newborn is 30-60 breaths per minute). This could be a sign of respiratory distress and should be reported to the provider.

Choice H rationale: Dry mucous membranes can be a sign of dehydration, which can occur if the newborn is not feeding well or is losing too much fluid, for example, through excessive sweating due to fever. This should be reported to the provider.