A nurse is caring for a client who is at 28 weeks of gestation and has a blood pressure of 160/100 mm Hg.
The nurse should anticipate a prescription for which of the following medications?
Hydralazine
Nifedipine
Labetalol
Methyldopa
The Correct Answer is C
Labetalol is an antihypertensive drug that can lower blood pressure in pregnant women with preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a condition that causes high blood pressure and proteinuria after 20 weeks of gestation.
Choice A is wrong because hydralazine is not recommended as a first-line treatment for preeclampsia due to its potential adverse effects on maternal and fetal outcomes.
Choice B is wrong because nifedipine is not licensed for use in pregnancy and may interact with magnesium sulfate, which is an anticonvulsant medication used to prevent or treat seizures in severe preeclampsia.
Choice D is wrong because methyldopa is not effective for acute blood pressure control and may cause adverse effects such as depression, sedation, and hemolytic anemia.
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Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Hydralazine can causetachycardia(fast heart rate) as a common side effect.
This is because hydralazine lowers blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels, which can make the heart beat faster to compensate.
Choice B is wrong because hydralazine does not causehyperglycemia(high blood sugar).
Hydralazine is not known to affect glucose metabolism or insulin secretion.
Choice C is wrong because hydralazine does not causehypokalemia(low potassium levels).
Hydralazine is not a diuretic and does not increase potassium excretion.
Choice D is wrong because hydralazine does not causeconstipation.Hydralazine can causediarrheaas a common side effect, but not constipation.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Headache that does not respond to analgesics.This is a possible sign of postpartum pre-eclampsia, a rare condition that occurs when a woman has high blood pressure and excess protein in her urine soon after childbirth.Postpartum pre-eclampsia can cause seizures and other serious complications if not treated.
Choice B is wrong because breast engorgement and tenderness are normal symptoms of breastfeeding and do not indicate postpartum pre-eclampsia.
Choice C is wrong because lochia rubra with small clots is a normal discharge of blood and tissue from the uterus after delivery and does not indicate postpartum pre-eclampsia.
Choice D is wrong because perineal pain and swelling are common after vaginal delivery and do not indicate postpartum pre-eclampsia.
Normal ranges for blood pressure are below 120/80 mm Hg and for protein in urine are below 150 mg/day.
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