A nurse is caring for a client who is at 38 weeks of gestation, is in active labor, and has ruptured membranes. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Initiate an oxytocin IV infusion
Apply a fetal heart rate monitor.
Initiate fundal massage.
Insert an indwelling urinary catheter
The Correct Answer is B
A. Initiate an oxytocin IV infusion. Oxytocin may be used to augment labor, but it should not be started immediately without first assessing maternal and fetal well-being. Continuous monitoring is necessary before initiating any uterotonic agent.
B. Apply a fetal heart rate monitor. After rupture of membranes, assessing the fetal heart rate is critical to detect signs of umbilical cord prolapse or fetal distress. Continuous electronic fetal monitoring helps evaluate the baby's response to labor.
C. Initiate fundal massage. Fundal massage is performed after delivery of the placenta to help contract the uterus and reduce postpartum bleeding. It is not appropriate during active labor.
D. Insert an indwelling urinary catheter. A catheter may be placed if necessary during labor, especially before epidural anesthesia, but it is not the immediate priority following membrane rupture. Fetal monitoring takes precedence.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. "I should visually monitor the client continuously when in mechanical restraints." Continuous visual monitoring is required to ensure the client’s safety, monitor for distress or injury, and assess the ongoing need for restraints. This is a key safety standard in the use of mechanical restraints.
B. "I should assess the client's skin integrity every 8 hours while in mechanical restraints." Skin integrity must be assessed much more frequently, typically every 15 to 30 minutes, to prevent injury or pressure-related complications while the client is restrained.
C. "I should expect the provider to evaluate the client within 4 hours of restraint application." For adults, a provider must evaluate the client within 1 hour of the initiation of mechanical restraints. A 4-hour delay does not meet safety or legal standards.
D. "I should ask the provider to write a prescription for mechanical restraints as needed." PRN (as-needed) prescriptions for restraints are not permitted. Each use must be justified, time-limited, and based on the client’s immediate behavior or condition.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Premature atrial complexes. These are early electrical impulses originating in the atria that cause premature heartbeats, but they do not consistently lengthen the P-R interval. The P-R interval usually remains within normal limits unless another condition is present.
B. First-degree atrioventricular (AV) block. A constant P-R interval longer than 0.20 seconds (normal range: 0.12–0.20 seconds) is characteristic of a first-degree AV block. A P-R interval of 0.35 seconds indicates a prolonged conduction delay through the AV node, consistent with this dysrhythmia.
C. Complete heart block. In complete (third-degree) heart block, there is no consistent relationship between P waves and QRS complexes, and the P-R interval is not constant. This is not consistent with a stable, prolonged P-R interval.
D. Atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is marked by irregularly irregular rhythm and absent, unidentifiable P waves, not a consistent P-R interval. The atria are quivering, not contracting in a coordinated way.
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