A nurse is caring for a 32-year-old female client in the postpartum unit who had a cesarean birth due to preeclampsia. The client has been prescribed misoprostol.

Exhibits

The nurse is assessing the client 1 hour later. How should the nurse interpret the findings? For each finding, click to specify whether the finding is unrelated to the diagnosis, an indication of potential improvement, or an indication of potential worsening condition.

Choice A rationale: The client’s temperature is 38.3°C (101°F), which is above the normal range (36.5-37.2°C or 97.7-99°F). This could indicate an infection, which is a common postpartum complication. Fever in the postpartum period can be due to endometritis, wound infection, mastitis, or urinary tract infection. Given the client’s report of a burning sensation during urination, a urinary tract infection could be a possibility. This finding requires immediate follow-up.

Choice B rationale: The client’s pulse rate is 110/min, which is above the normal range (60-100/min). This could indicate tachycardia, which can be a response to fever, pain, anxiety, or blood loss. Given the client’s elevated temperature and report of pain, this finding requires immediate follow-up.

Choice C rationale: The client’s respiratory rate is 22/min, which is within the normal range (12-20/min). While it’s slightly elevated, it’s not as concerning as the other findings. However, the nurse should continue to monitor the client’s respiratory rate along with other vital signs.

Choice D rationale: The client’s blood pressure is 140/90 mm Hg, which is higher than the normal range (90-120/60-80 mm Hg). This could indicate hypertension, which can be a complication in the postpartum period. Hypertension can lead to complications such as preeclampsia or eclampsia, which can be life-threatening. This finding requires immediate follow-up.

Choice E rationale: The client has a large amount of lochia rubra. Lochia rubra is normal for the first few days after delivery, but a large amount could indicate postpartum hemorrhage, especially if it’s accompanied by signs of hypovolemia such as tachycardia and hypotension. This finding requires immediate follow-up.

Choice F rationale: The client reports pain as 5 on a scale of 0 to 10. While pain is expected after a vaginal delivery, especially with an episiotomy, it should be manageable with analgesics. If the client’s pain is not well-controlled, it could indicate a complication such as infection or hematoma at the episiotomy site. However, given the information provided, this finding does not require immediate follow-up as much as the others.

Choice G rationale: The client has 3+ peripheral edema in bilateral lower extremities. While some edema is normal during pregnancy and the postpartum period, 3+ edema could indicate a complication such as deep vein thrombosis, especially if it’s accompanied by pain, warmth, or redness. This finding requires immediate follow-up.

Choice A rationale

Applying hydrating lotion to the newborn’s skin prior to treatment is not recommended. The goal of phototherapy is to expose the newborn’s skin to light, and applying lotion could potentially interfere with the effectiveness of the treatment.
Choice B rationale
Providing the newborn with 15 mL glucose water after each feeding is not a standard part of phototherapy treatment. The newborn should continue to receive regular feedings, but additional glucose water is not typically necessary.
Choice C rationale
Turning the newborn every 4 hours is not sufficient during phototherapy. The newborn should be repositioned frequently, ideally every 2-3 hours, to expose all areas of the skin to the light.
Choice D rationale
It is important to protect the newborn’s eyes during phototherapy to prevent damage from the light. Therefore, the newborn’s eyes should be covered with special patches whenever the lights are on.