A nurse is caring for a client who reports a recent episode of painful sores on the perineum, muscle aches, and chills for about 2 weeks.
The client currently denies pain but reports sitting is uncomfortable at times.
The client denies dysuria and reports mild vaginal itching.
What should the nurse anticipate?

Choice A rationale

Instructing the client to avoid alcohol for 72 hr after treatment is a common instruction given when a client is prescribed certain medications, such as metronidazole, due to the potential for a disulfiram-like reaction. However, this choice does not directly address the client’s symptoms of vaginal itching and discharge.

Choice B rationale

The client’s symptoms are indicative of Bacterial Vaginosis (BV), a common vaginal infection in women of reproductive age. Metronidazole is a medication commonly used to treat this infection. A single dose of 2 g orally is a typical treatment regimen.

Choice C rationale

An oatmeal sitz bath can help soothe irritated skin and reduce inflammation, but it does not treat the underlying cause of the client’s symptoms.

Choice D rationale

Douching is generally not recommended as it can disrupt the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina and can lead to further complications.

Choice E rationale

Recommending the client’s partner receive treatment is important in cases of sexually transmitted infections to prevent reinfection. However, this choice does not directly address the client’s immediate need for treatment.

Choice A rationale

Vitamin E is an important nutrient during pregnancy as it acts as an antioxidant, helping to protect cells from damage. However, its requirements do not decline during pregnancy due to an increase in body fat.

Choice B rationale

While iron is an important nutrient during pregnancy, it’s not necessary to double your intake. Iron needs do increase during pregnancy because it’s needed to make more blood to supply oxygen to the baby. However, this should be managed under the guidance of a healthcare provider.

Choice C rationale

While it’s true that calcium intake should be increased during breastfeeding, this is not specifically related to nutrition during pregnancy. During pregnancy, adequate calcium intake is important for the development of the baby’s bones and teeth.

Choice D rationale

Prenatal vitamins are designed to meet the increased nutritional needs of pregnancy, and they include a variety of vitamins and minerals. One of these is vitamin D, which helps the body absorb calcium and is important for the baby’s bone growth. Therefore, taking prenatal vitamins can indeed help to meet the need for increased vitamin D during pregnancy.