A nurse is educating a group of pregnant women about neural tube defects.
Which of the following conditions should the nurse mention as an example of a neural tube defect?

Choice A rationale

Increasing the rate of maintenance IV infusion is not the first action the nurse should take when observing that the fetal heart rate begins to slow after the start of a contraction and the lowest rate occurs after the peak of the contraction. This pattern is known as late decelerations and is often associated with fetal hypoxemia due to insufficient placental perfusion.

Choice B rationale

The nurse should first place the client in the lateral position. This position can improve placental blood flow and may help to resolve the late decelerations.

Choice C rationale

Administering oxygen using a nasal cannula may be beneficial, but it is not the first action the nurse should take. The priority is to improve placental blood flow, which can be achieved by changing the client’s position.

Choice D rationale

Elevating the client’s legs is not the first action the nurse should take. This action would not directly address the issue of late decelerations.

Choice A rationale

While the client’s daughter, who is the primary caregiver, may have a significant role in the client’s care, the decision to sign the informed consent ultimately lies with the client if they are deemed competent.

Choice B rationale

The client, who is alert and oriented to person, place, and time, and has advance directives, is the most appropriate person to sign the informed consent. As long as the client is competent and understands the information provided, they have the right to make their own medical decisions.

Choice C rationale

The client’s partner does not have the legal authority to sign the informed consent on behalf of the client unless the client is deemed incompetent and the partner is designated as the legal representative.

Choice D rationale

The client’s son, who has a durable power of attorney, can only sign the informed consent on behalf of the client if the client is deemed incompetent. Since the client is alert and oriented, they should be the one to sign the informed consent.