A nurse is caring for a 32-year-old female client who is at 36 weeks of gestation in the labor and delivery unit.

Exhibits

The nurse should monitor the client’s

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due to the risk of

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.

Choice A rationale

Gonorrhea typically presents with a purulent, often thick, yellow discharge. While it can have a foul odor, the description of frothy and bubbly is less characteristic of gonorrhea. Diagnosis usually involves a cervical culture or nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT).

Choice B rationale

Trichomoniasis, caused by the protozoan *Trichomonas vaginalis*, is characteristically associated with a large amount of yellow-green or gray, frothy, and bubbly vaginal discharge with a distinct, often foul or fishy odor. Microscopic examination of the discharge reveals the motile trichomonads for definitive diagnosis.

Choice C rationale

Chlamydia often presents with a thin or mucopurulent discharge, which may be yellowish, but it is not typically described as frothy or bubbly. Many women with chlamydia are asymptomatic. Diagnosis is usually made through NAAT of cervical or urine samples.

Choice D rationale

Syphilis in its primary stage presents with a painless chancre. Secondary syphilis can involve a generalized rash and flu-like symptoms. Vaginal discharge is not a primary characteristic of either the primary or secondary stages of syphilis. Diagnosis involves serological testing.

Choice A rationale

While documenting findings is a crucial nursing responsibility, a white blood cell count of 28,000 mm³ in a newborn is significantly elevated. The normal range for a newborn's WBC count is typically between 9,000 to 30,000 mm³, but a value at the higher end or exceeding this range warrants further investigation to rule out infection or other underlying conditions. Simply documenting without further action could delay necessary interventions.

Choice B rationale

A WBC count of 28,000 mm³ in a newborn raises suspicion for neonatal sepsis, a serious bloodstream infection. Unit protocols for a sepsis workup typically involve obtaining blood cultures, a complete blood count with differential, and potentially a lumbar puncture and chest X-ray to identify the source and extent of infection. Prompt initiation of these measures is critical for timely diagnosis and treatment, improving the newborn's prognosis.

Choice C rationale

Taking vital signs is a standard nursing assessment, but in the presence of an abnormal lab value suggestive of a serious condition like sepsis, it is insufficient as the sole action. While changes in vital signs can indicate infection, they may not be present in the early stages. Notifying the provider is necessary, but initiating a sepsis workup concurrently based on unit protocol allows for quicker diagnostic evaluation.

Choice D rationale

A heel stick for a bedside blood glucose reading is indicated for assessing hypoglycemia, a common concern in newborns, particularly those at risk. However, it does not directly address the significantly elevated WBC count. While infection can sometimes affect blood glucose levels, this test would not provide information about the potential underlying cause of the leukocytosis.