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 A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
If a client reports feeling down and sad, having no energy, and wanting to cry, the nurse’s priority action should be to ask the client if she has considered harming her newborn. This is because these symptoms may indicate postpartum depression, a serious condition that can lead to harm to both the mother and the baby if left untreated.
Choice B rationale
While reinforcing postpartum and newborn care discharge teaching is important, it is not the priority action in this situation. The client’s emotional health needs to be addressed first.
Choice C rationale
Assisting the family to identify prior use of positive coping skills in family crises can be helpful, but it is not the priority action in this situation. The client’s immediate emotional health needs to be addressed first.
Choice D rationale
Anticipating a prescription by the provider for an antidepressant may be part of the treatment plan for this client, but it is not the priority action. The nurse first needs to assess the safety of the client and her newborn.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
The correct answer is Choice A.
Choice A rationale: Documenting the findings and continuing to monitor the client is appropriate because the nurse has already observed that the fundus is midline and firm, which indicates good uterine tone. The presence of lochia rubra and small clots is expected in the immediate postpartum period.
Choice B rationale: Encouraging the client to empty her bladder can help maintain uterine tone, but in this scenario, the fundus is already firm and midline, so this is not the priority action.
Choice C rationale: Notifying the client's provider is unnecessary at this time because the findings are within normal postpartum expectations and the uterus is firm.
Choice D rationale: Increasing the frequency of fundal massage is not needed because the uterus is already firm and midline, indicating that it is contracting properly.
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