A nurse is caring for a patient who is 36 hours postpartum.
After reviewing the information in the patient’s medical record, which of the following complications pose a greater
risk for the patient?
Perineal pad clots
Pelvic pain
Boggy uterus
Breast Engorgement
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale:
Perineal pad clots are not the greatest risk for this patient. While it’s important to monitor the amount and type of lochia, the nurse’s notes indicate that the patient has a moderate amount of lochia rubra, which is normal within the first few days postpartum. Large clots could indicate a problem such as a retained placental fragment, but this is not mentioned in
the scenario.
Choice B rationale:
Pelvic pain is a common complaint after childbirth due to uterine contractions, especially during breastfeeding, and usually resolves within a few days. The patient’s pain is rated as 4 on a scale of 0 to 10, which is considered moderate. While it’s important to manage the patient’s pain, it’s not the greatest risk in this scenario.
Choice C rationale:
A boggy uterus poses the greatest risk for this patient. A boggy or soft uterus indicates uterine atony, which is a lack of normal muscle tone that can lead to excessive bleeding. This is a serious condition that can lead to postpartum hemorrhage if not treated promptly. The nurse’s notes indicate that the patient’s fundus is boggy and located above the umbilicus, which is a concern. The fundus should be firm and gradually descend into the pelvis within the first few days postpartum.
Choice D rationale:
Breast engorgement is a common discomfort that occurs when the breasts are overly full with milk. It typically occurs within the first week postpartum as the milk supply increases. The nurse’s notes indicate that the patient’s breasts are soft, warm, and tender to touch, which is normal. While it’s important to manage the patient’s comfort, breast
engorgement is not the greatest risk in this scenario.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale
The patient’s anti-A and anti-B antibodies crossing the placenta and causing the destruction of the fetal red blood cells is related to ABO incompatibility, not Rh incompatibility.
Choice B rationale
If the patient’s blood contains the Rh factor and the newborn’s does not, Rh incompatibility would not occur. Rh incompatibility happens when the mother’s blood does not contain the Rh factor (Rh-negative), but the baby’s blood does contain the Rh factor (Rh-positive).
Choice C rationale
The patient’s blood does not contain the Rh factor, so she produces anti-Rh antibodies that cross the placental barrier and cause hemolysis of red blood cells in newborns. This is the correct reason for hyperbilirubinemia occurring with Rh incompatibility.
Choice D rationale
The patient’s blood containing anti-Rh antibodies that attack the newborn’s red blood cells is a result of Rh incompatibility, but it does not explain why hyperbilirubinemia occurs.
Hyperbilirubinemia occurs due to the breakdown of the extra red blood cells, leading to an increase in bilirubin levels.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
An ectopic pregnancy, where the fertilized egg attaches outside the uterus, often presents with unilateral, cramp-like abdominal pain. This is because as the fertilized egg grows in an area where it cannot survive, it can cause irritation and bleeding, leading to pain. This pain is often one-sided or unilateral and can vary from mild to severe. It’s one of the key symptoms that can suggest an ectopic pregnancy in the early weeks of gestation.
Choice B rationale
Severe nausea and vomiting are not typically the primary symptoms associated with an ectopic pregnancy. While nausea can be a symptom of early pregnancy, severe nausea and vomiting alone without other symptoms would not necessarily indicate an ectopic pregnancy.
Choice C rationale
Uterine enlargement greater than expected for gestational age is not a symptom of an ectopic pregnancy. In fact, because the pregnancy is not in the uterus, the size of the uterus may not correlate with the expected size at the given gestational age.
Choice D rationale
While vaginal bleeding can occur in an ectopic pregnancy, it is not typically a large amount. The bleeding is often lighter than normal menstrual bleeding and may be associated with a change in color of the vaginal discharge.
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