A nurse is caring for a client who gave birth 2 hours ago. The nurse notes that the client’s blood pressure is 60/50 mm Hg. What should be the nurse’s first action?
Evaluate the firmness of the uterus.
Administer oxytocin infusion.
Obtain a type and crossmatch.
Initiate oxygen therapy by nonrebreather mask.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale
If a nurse notes that a client’s blood pressure is 60/50 mm Hg two hours after giving birth, the first action should be to evaluate the firmness of the uterus. This is because a soft or “boggy” uterus could indicate uterine atony, a condition where the uterus fails to contract after delivery, leading to excessive bleeding and a drop in blood pressure.
Choice B rationale
Administering oxytocin infusion can help stimulate uterine contractions and control postpartum bleeding. However, it is not the first action to take. The nurse should first assess the firmness of the uterus.
Choice C rationale
Obtaining a type and crossmatch is important if a blood transfusion is required. However, this is not the first action. The nurse should first assess the firmness of the uterus.
Choice D rationale
Initiating oxygen therapy can help ensure adequate oxygen supply to the tissues, but it is not the first action. The nurse should first assess the firmness of the uterus.
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Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Postpartum hemorrhage is a serious condition characterized by heavy bleeding after childbirth. In the scenario described, the nurse’s notes indicate that the client’s fundus is boggy and located 1 cm above the umbilicus, which becomes firm with massage. This could be a sign of uterine atony, a leading cause of postpartum hemorrhage. Additionally, the client reports abdominal cramping and rates the pain as 8 on a scale of 0 to 10, and the perineal pad shows a moderate amount of lochia rubra. These are all signs that could indicate a postpartum hemorrhage.
Choice B rationale
While infection is a possible postpartum complication, the symptoms provided do not strongly indicate an infection. Symptoms of a postpartum infection typically include soreness, tenderness, or swelling of the belly or abdomen, chills, pain while urinating or during sex, abnormal vaginal discharge that has a bad smell or blood in it, and a general feeling of discomfort or unwellness.
Choice C rationale
Thrombophlebitis is a condition where an inflammation in a vein is caused by a blood clot, affecting normal blood flow. It commonly occurs in the legs but can occur elsewhere in the body. The symptoms include swelling of the affected area, redness of the affected area, tenderness of the affected area, warmth around the affected area, and pain. However, the symptoms provided do not strongly indicate thrombophlebitis.
Choice D rationale
Pulmonary embolism is a serious condition that occurs when a blood clot gets lodged in an artery in the lung, blocking blood flow to part of the lung. Symptoms can include shortness of breath or chest pain. However, the symptoms provided do not strongly indicate a pulmonary embolism.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Hydrocephalus is a condition where there is an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain, causing increased pressure inside the skull. This can cause dilated veins on the scalp in a newborn.
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