A nurse is caring for a client with mild pre-eclampsia who has a blood pressure of 150/95 mmHg, proteinuria of 400 mg/24 hours, and edema of the face and hands.
Which intervention is the priority for this client?
Administer magnesium sulfate as prescribed
Monitor the fetal heart rate and movement
Encourage bed rest in a left lateral position
Educate the client about the signs of eclampsia
The Correct Answer is C
Encourage bed rest in a left lateral position.
This is because bed rest can lower blood pressure and improve blood flow to the placenta and the fetus. The left lateral position reduces pressure on the inferior vena cava, a large vein that carries blood from the lower body to the heart.
Choice A is wrong because magnesium sulfate is used to prevent seizures in severe preeclampsia or eclampsia, not mild preeclampsia.
Choice B is wrong because monitoring the fetal heart rate and movement is important, but not the priority for this client.
Choice D is wrong because educating the client about the signs of eclampsia is not urgent and may not prevent the progression of preeclampsia. Some signs of eclampsia are severe headaches, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and seizures.
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Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Serum creatinine of 1.2 mg/dL.This indicates a need for further evaluation because it is above the normal range of 0.6 to 1.1 mg/dL for women and suggests kidney impairment.Preeclampsia can affect the kidneys and other organs.
Choice A is wrong because a platelet count of 150,000/mm3 is within the normal range of 150,000 to 450,000/mm3.
Choice C is wrong because proteinuria of 1+ on dipstick is expected in mild preeclampsia.
Choice D is wrong because serum albumin of 3.5 g/dL is within the normal range of 3.4 to 5.4 g/dL.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Deep tendon reflexes.
The nurse should monitor the client’s deep tendon reflexes to assess for signs of magnesium toxicity, which can cause respiratory depression, cardiac arrest, and coma.Magnesium sulfate is given to prevent seizures in clients with severe preeclampsia, but it can also have adverse effects on the neuromuscular system.
Choice A is wrong because blood pressure is not the most important assessment for a client receiving magnesium sulfate.
Blood pressure is a manifestation of preeclampsia, but it does not indicate magnesium toxicity.
Choice B is wrong because urine output is not the most important assessment for a client receiving magnesium sulfate.
Urine output should be at least 25 to 30 mL/hr to promote adequate excretion of magnesium, but it does not reflect the level of magnesium in the blood.
Choice D is wrong because fetal heart rate is not the most important assessment for a client receiving magnesium sulfate.
Fetal heart rate is important to monitor for signs of fetal distress, but it does not indicate maternal magnesium toxicity.
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