A nurse is caring for a patient being evaluated for sexually transmitted infection (STI).A negative rapid plasma reagin (RPR) indicates that a patient is probably not infected with which STI?

This is because the first priority for a pregnant woman with acute abdominal pain is to assess the fetal well-being and rule out any obstetric complications such as placental abruption, uterine rupture, or preterm labor.Fetal heart tones can indicate the presence and viability of the fetus and alert the nurse to any signs of fetal distress or hypoxia.

Choice A: Obtain a full history is wrong because it is not the most urgent action.

A full history can provide valuable information about the possible causes of abdominal pain, but it should not delay the assessment of fetal status and maternal vital signs.

Choice B: Examine the cervix for dilation is wrong because it can be harmful in some cases.A digital cervical examination should be avoided until placenta previa is ruled out by ultrasound, as it can cause bleeding and worsen the condition.

Moreover, cervical dilation alone does not indicate the cause or severity of abdominal pain.

Choice D: Palpate for uterine contraction frequency is wrong because it is not the most reliable method to assess labor.Uterine contractions can be measured by external tocodynamometry or internal intrauterine pressure catheter, which can provide more accurate and objective data than manual palpation.

Furthermore, uterine contractions do not necessarily indicate labor, as they can also be caused by other conditions such as dehydration, infection, or irritable uterus.

The correct answer is choice B. Dry off the newborn.This is the priority nursing action because it prevents heat loss and hypothermia in the newborn.

The newborn has a large surface area and a thin layer of subcutaneous fat, making it vulnerable to cold stress.Drying off the newborn also stimulates breathing and crying, which helps clear the airways.

Choice A is wrong because obtaining a serum sample is not a priority action and may cause unnecessary pain and bleeding in the newborn.

Choice C is wrong because assessing the newborn’s Moro reflex is not a priority action and may be done later during the physical examination.Choice D is wrong because obtaining the newborn’s footprints is not a priority action and may be done after the bonding and breastfeeding period.