A nurse is caring for a 28-year-old female client who is gravida 1 para 0 at 32 weeks of gestation in the prenatal unit.

Exhibits

The nurse is providing teaching about tocolytic medication. Which of the following statements should the nurse include? Select all that apply.

B. "You may experience a headache after receiving this medication."

• Some tocolytic medications can cause headaches as a side effect.

C. "It is common for this medication to make you feel jittery."

• Tocolytic medications, such as terbutaline, can cause nervousness or jitteriness.

D. "This medication should decrease your contractions."

• The primary purpose of tocolytic medication is to decrease uterine contractions and delay preterm labor.

E. "I'll check your reflexes frequently while you are receiving this medication."

• Some tocolytic medications, like magnesium sulfate, require monitoring of deep tendon reflexes to assess for potential toxicity.

F. "This medication can make your heart beat faster."

• Tocolytic medications, such as terbutaline, can increase heart rate.

These statements provide the client with a comprehensive understanding of the purpose of the medication and its potential side effects.

The incorrect statements are:

• A. "I will inject this medication under your skin.": Tocolytic medications are typically administered orally, intravenously, or intramuscularly, not subcutaneously.
• G. "This medication can increase your blood pressure.": Some tocolytic medications, like magnesium sulfate, can actually lower blood pressure rather than increase it.