A nurse is caring for a client who is 2 weeks postpartum. The client tells the nurse, "I feel really down and sad lately. I have no energy and I feel like I'm going to cry." Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
Reinforce teaching about ways to increase rest and sleep.
Arrange for counseling to help the client cope with the stress of being a parent.
Request a prescription for antidepressant medication.
Use a postpartum depression screening tool with the client.
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A rationale: While adequate rest and sleep are essential postpartum, the client's symptoms of feeling down and sad may be indicative of postpartum depression and should be further evaluated.
Choice B rationale: Counseling may be helpful, but the priority is to first assess and screen for postpartum depression before making additional recommendations.
Choice C rationale: While antidepressant medications might be necessary for postpartum depression, the initial step should be to assess and screen for depression using the appropriate tool.
Choice D rationale: The client's statement and symptoms raise concerns about possible postpartum depression. Using a postpartum depression screening tool will help the nurse assess the severity of the client's symptoms and determine the appropriate course of action.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale: During phototherapy, it is essential to maintain adequate hydration and nutrition for the newborn. Encouraging frequent breastfeeding helps provide the baby with essential nutrients and fluids, which can be lost due to increased stooling caused by phototherapy.
Choice B rationale: The use of lotion on the newborn's skin during phototherapy is not recommended, as it may interfere with the effectiveness of the light therapy. The skin needs to be exposed to the light for the treatment to work.
Choice C rationale: Monitoring the newborn's blood glucose level is not directly related to phototherapy. Blood glucose monitoring may be necessary for specific medical reasons, but it is not a standard intervention during phototherapy.
Choice D rationale: During phototherapy, the newborn is usually placed in a supine (face-up) position to ensure maximum exposure of the skin to the phototherapy lights. The prone position is not recommended during phototherapy as it may reduce the effectiveness of the treatment.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale: Kernicterus is a severe form of jaundice that can result from untreated hyperbilirubinemia in a newborn. The indirect Coombs test does not assess the risk of kernicterus specifically.
Choice B rationale: The indirect Coombs test detects Rh-negative antibodies in the mother's blood, not Rh-positive antibodies.
Choice C rationale: The indirect Coombs test, also known as the indirect antiglobulin test (IAT), is performed on a pregnant woman to detect the presence of Rh-negative antibodies in her blood. If the mother is Rh-negative and has been sensitized to Rh-positive blood, these antibodies can cross the placenta and attack the red blood cells of an Rh-positive fetus, potentially causing hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) or erythroblastosis fetalis.
Choice D rationale: The direct Coombs test (direct antiglobulin test) is used to detect the presence of maternal antibodies that have already been attached to the newborn's red blood cells. The indirect Coombs test is used to identify the presence of these antibodies in the mother's blood before they have attached to the newborn's red blood cells.
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