A nurse is collecting data from a client who is at 29 weeks of gestation.
Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as a potential indication of a prenatal complication?
Leg cramps.
Ptyalism.
Blurred vision.
Melasma.
The Correct Answer is C
This can be a sign of preeclampsia, a serious complication of pregnancy that causes high blood pressure and proteinuria.
The nurse should report this finding to the provider and monitor the client’s blood pressure, urine protein, and reflexes.
Choice A is wrong because leg cramps are a common discomfort during pregnancy and are not usually a sign of a complication.
Choice B is wrong because ptyalism, or excessive salivation, is a normal physiological change during pregnancy and does not indicate a problem.
Choice D is wrong because melasma, or darkening of the skin on the face, is also a normal physiological change during pregnancy and does not pose a risk to the mother or the fetus.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
The indirect Coombs test is used to detect antibodies against foreign red blood cells in the maternal serum. This test can help identify maternal-fetal blood incompatibility, which can cause hemolytic disease of the newborn.
Choice A is wrong because homocysteine is a type of amino acid and is not related to blood compatibility.
Choice C is incorrect because erythropoietin is a hormone that regulates red blood cell production and is not a specific test for detecting maternal-fetal blood incompatibility.
Choice D is not the correct answer as aPTT (activated partial thromboplastin time) is a test used to evaluate blood clotting factors and is not directly related to monitoring maternal-fetal blood incompatibility.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
This is because the client has hypothyroidism, which means their thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. Levothyroxine is a synthetic form of thyroid hormone that can replace the missing hormone and normalize the TSH level. The client’s TSH level is 8.9 mIU/L, which is above the normal range of 0.4 to 4.0 mIU/L. This indicates that the client’s current dosage of levothyroxine is insufficient and needs to be increased.
Choice A is wrong because thyroid ablation therapy is a treatment for hyperthyroidism, not hypothyroidism.
Thyroid ablation therapy involves destroying part or all of the thyroid gland with radioactive iodine or surgery, which reduces the production of thyroid hormone.
This would worsen the client’s condition and symptoms.
Choice C is wrong because lovastatin is a statin drug that lowers cholesterol levels. Hypothyroidism can cause high cholesterol levels, but this is usually corrected by levothyroxine therapy. Replacing lovastatin with cholestyramine, a bile acid sequestrant that also lowers cholesterol levels, would not address the underlying cause of hypothyroidism and would not improve the client’s TSH level.
Choice D is wrong because restricting the intake of iodized salt would not help the client with hypothyroidism. Iodine is an essential element for the synthesis of thyroid hormone, but most people in developed countries get enough iodine from their diet.
Hypothyroidism is usually caused by autoimmune disease, not iodine deficiency.
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