A nurse is collecting data from a postpartum client and finds a large amount of lochia rubra with several clots on the client's perineal pad. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
Request the provider perform a vaginal examination.
Check the client's fundus.
Measure the client's vital signs.
Feel for a full bladder.
The Correct Answer is B
Check the client's fundus. Lochia rubra is the normal vaginal bleeding and discharge that occurs after childbirth. It consists of blood, mucus, and tissue from the placenta and the uterus lining. It is usually bright red and may have some clots, but these clots should not be big or difficult to pass. If the client has a large amount of lochia rubra with several clots, it may indicate that the uterus is not contracting well and needs to be massaged to expel any retained tissue or blood. Checking the client's fundus is the first action the nurse should take to assess the uterine tone and location.
Choice A is incorrect because requesting the provider perform a vaginal examination is not the first action the nurse should take. A vaginal examination may be necessary if the fundal massage does not reduce the bleeding or if there is a suspicion of lacerations or hematoma, but it is not a priority intervention.
Choice C is incorrect because measuring the client's vital signs is not the first action the nurse should take. Vital signs can help monitor the client's hemodynamic status and identify signs of shock, such as tachycardia, hypotension, and pallor, but they are not as important as checking the fundus in this situation.
Choice D is incorrect because feeling for a full bladder is not the first action the nurse should take. A full bladder can displace the uterus and interfere with its contraction, leading to increased bleeding. However, it is not as likely as uterine atony to cause a large amount of lochia rubra with several clots.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Notify the physician of a possible pulmonary embolism. This is because the client's symptoms suggest that she has a pulmonary embolism, which is a blockage of a blood vessel in the lungs often caused by blood clots that travel from the legs. Pulmonary embolism is a life-threateningcondition that requires immediate medical attention. The client may also have chest pain, coughing up blood, dizziness, or fainting.
Choice A is wrong because postpartum mucous membrane congestion does not cause fever, cough, or shortness of breath.
Choice B is wrong because an upper respiratory infection does not cause edema and redness along the saphenous vein.
Choice D is wrong because an antipyretic remedy does not treat the underlying cause of the fever and may mask the severity of the condition.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
This is because lochia rubra is the first stage of lochia, the vaginal discharge after giving birth. It comprises blood, shreds of fetal membranes, decidua, vernix caseosa, lanugo, and membranes. It is red in color because of the large amount of blood it contains. It lasts 1 to 4 days after birth.
Choice A is not correct because lochia alba is the last stage of lochia. It is whitish or yellowish-white in color and contains fewer red blood cells and more leukocytes, epithelial cells, cholesterol, fat, mucus, and microorganisms. It lasts from the second through the third to sixth weeks after delivery.
Choice B is not correct because there is no such thing as lochia normal. Lochia has three stages: lochia rubra, lochia serosa and lochia alba.
Choice C is not correct because lochia serosa is the second stage of lochia. It is brownish or pink in color and contains serous exudate, erythrocytes, leukocytes, cervical mucus, and microorganisms. It lasts for 4 to 12 days after delivery.
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