A nurse is creating the plan of care for a client who is at 39 weeks of gestation and in active labor. Which of the following actions should the nurse include in the plan of care?

Insert an indwelling urinary catheter to maintain an empty blaadder at all times.

Keep four side rails up while the client is in bed, maintaining strict bedrest.

Monitor the fetal heart rate (FHR) hourly during active labor.

Check the cervix to determine how close the time of delivery may be prior to analgesic administration.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

Choice A: Insert an indwelling urinary catheter to maintain an empty bladder at all times.

Routinely inserting an indwelling urinary catheter is not necessary for maintaining an empty bladder during labor. While it is important to ensure the client has a voiding schedule, the use of an indwelling catheter should be reserved for specific medical indications, such as when the client is unable to void or has received an epidural. Indwelling catheters can increase the risk of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) and should be used judiciously.

Choice B: Keep four side rails up while the client is in bed, maintaining strict bedrest.

Keeping all four side rails up and maintaining strict bedrest is not appropriate during active labor. This practice can limit the client’s movement, which is essential for comfort and progress during labor. Movement and changing positions can help labor progress and reduce pain. Strict bedrest is generally reserved for specific medical conditions, such as preterm labor or other complications.

Choice C: Monitor the fetal heart rate (FHR) hourly during active labor.

Monitoring the fetal heart rate (FHR) is crucial during labor to assess the well-being of the fetus. However, hourly monitoring may not be sufficient. Guidelines recommend more frequent monitoring, typically every 15-30 minutes during the active phase of labor and every 5-15 minutes during the second stage. Continuous electronic fetal monitoring may be used for high-risk pregnancies or if there are signs of fetal distress.

Choice D: Check the cervix to determine how close the time of delivery may be prior to analgesic administration.

Checking the cervix to determine how close the time of delivery may be prior to analgesic administration is important. This practice helps ensure that analgesics are administered at an appropriate time, avoiding potential complications such as delayed delivery or inadequate pain relief. Cervical checks provide valuable information about the progress of labor and help guide clinical decisions regarding pain management and delivery planning.

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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A) Variable decelerations are a result of the administration of IV narcotic analgesics: IV narcotic analgesics can cause changes in the fetal heart rate, but they are more commonly associated with early decelerations, not variable decelerations.

B) Variable decelerations are related to fetal head compression: Fetal head compression is associated with early decelerations, not variable decelerations.
C) Variable decelerations are due to umbilical cord compression: This is the correct answer.

Variable decelerations occur due to compression of the umbilical cord during contractions, leading to transient decreases in fetal blood flow and oxygenation.
D) Variable decelerations are caused by uteroplacental insufficiency: Uteroplacental insufficiency is associated with late decelerations, not variable decelerations.

A. Posterior neck flexion B. Increased abdominal muscle tone C. Gradual lordosis D. Decreased mobility of pelvic joints

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Choice A: Posterior neck flexion is not an expected change during pregnancy.

Choice B: Increased abdominal muscle tone is not an expected change during pregnancy. In fact, the abdominal muscles tend to stretch and may become less toned as the uterus expands.

Choice C: During pregnancy, the woman's center of gravity shifts due to the growing uterus, leading to an increased arch in the lower back known as lordosis. This change helps to maintain balance and reduce the strain on the back. The other options are not expected physiologic changes during pregnancy.

Choice D: Decreased mobility of pelvic joints is not an expected change during pregnancy. Some joint laxity may occur due to hormonal changes, but decreased mobility is not typical.

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A nurse is creating the plan of care for a client who is at 39 weeks of gestation and in active labor. Which of the following actions should the nurse include in the plan of care?

Choice A: Insert an indwelling urinary catheter to maintain an empty bladder at all times.

Choice B: Keep four side rails up while the client is in bed, maintaining strict bedrest.

Choice C: Monitor the fetal heart rate (FHR) hourly during active labor.

Choice D: Check the cervix to determine how close the time of delivery may be prior to analgesic administration.

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse is caring for a client who is in the first stage of labor, undergoing external fetal monitoring, and receiving IV fluid. The nurse observes variable decelerations in the fetal heart rate on the monitor strip. Which of the following is a correct interpretation of this finding?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A nurse is assessing a client who is in the third trimester of pregnancy. The nurse should recognize which of the following findings as an expected physiologic change during pregnancy?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A nurse is caring for a client who is gravida 3, para 2, and is in active labor. The fetal head is at 3+ station after a vaginal examination. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A nurse is caring for a client who is 42 weeks of gestation. Based on the assessment findings, which of the following actions should the nurse plan to take? (Select all that apply.)

A nurse is caring for a client who delivered a healthy term newborn via cesarean birth. The client asks the nurse, "Is there a chance that I could deliver my next baby without having a cesarean section?" Which of the following responses should the nurse provide?

A nurse admits a woman who is at 38 weeks of gestation and in early labor with ruptured membranes. The nurse determines that the client's oral temperature is 38.9°C (102°F). Besides notifying the provider, which of the following is an appropriate nursing action?

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A nurse is teaching a client who is at 23 weeks of gestation and will return to the facility in 2 days for an amniocentesis. Which of the following instructions should the nurse give the client?