A nurse is instructing a female client on how to check her basal body temperature to determine if she is ovulating. The nurse should instruct the client to check her temperature at which of the following times?
1 hour following intercourse
Every morning before arising
Before going to bed every night
On days 13 to 17 of her menstrual cycle
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A reason:
Checking basal body temperature 1 hour following intercourse is not recommended as a method to determine ovulation. Intercourse and physical activity can increase body temperature, which may lead to inaccurate readings. Basal body temperature should be measured after a period of rest, not after physical activity.
Choice B reason:
The basal body temperature method involves measuring the body's at-rest temperature to identify slight changes that occur around the time of ovulation. It is most accurate when taken every morning before getting out of bed, after at least 3 hours of uninterrupted sleep, and before any physical activity, including eating or drinking. A slight increase in basal body temperature typically occurs after ovulation and remains elevated until the next menstrual period. This method requires consistency and precise timing to be effective.
Choice C reason:
Measuring basal body temperature before going to bed every night is not an effective way to track ovulation. The body's temperature fluctuates throughout the day due to various factors, including activity levels, meals, and external temperatures. Therefore, nighttime measurements would not provide the consistent, resting temperature needed to accurately detect ovulation.
Choice D reason:
While it is true that ovulation typically occurs around the middle of the menstrual cycle, which for many women is between days 13 to 17, limiting temperature checks to these days only may miss the initial rise in temperature that indicates ovulation. Ovulation can vary from cycle to cycle, and it is important to measure basal body temperature daily to detect the pattern over time.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice a reason:
While ultrasound can be used for estimating fetal age, at 36 weeks of gestation, this is not the primary reason for performing an ultrasound before an amniocentesis. Fetal age is usually estimated earlier in the pregnancy to help with dating the pregnancy and determining the due date.
Choice b reason:
Determining if there is more than one fetus is typically established earlier in the pregnancy. By 36 weeks, the presence of multiples would already be known, so this would not be the primary reason for an ultrasound before an amniocentesis at this stage.
Choice c reason:
An ultrasound can be used as a screening tool for spina bifida, but it is not the main reason for an ultrasound before an amniocentesis at 36 weeks. Screening for spina bifida and other anomalies is usually done during the second trimester.
Choice d reason:
The primary reason for an ultrasound before an amniocentesis is to identify the location of the placenta and fetus. This information is crucial to ensure the safety of both the mother and the fetus during the procedure by avoiding injury to the placenta and ensuring the amniotic needle is inserted in a safe location.

Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale: Vitamin K deficiency in newborns can cause bleeding disorders due to impaired clotting, but it does not cause jaundice. Jaundice is related to bilirubin metabolism, not coagulation pathways.
Choice B rationale: Physiologic jaundice typically appears after 24 hours of life due to immature liver function. Jaundice observed immediately at birth suggests a pathologic cause, not physiologic immaturity.
Choice C rationale: Maternal cocaine abuse may cause neonatal irritability, tremors, or growth restriction, but it is not directly linked to jaundice. Cocaine affects neurobehavioral outcomes, not bilirubin metabolism.
Choice D rationale: Maternal/newborn blood group incompatibility (e.g., ABO or Rh) causes hemolysis of fetal red blood cells, leading to elevated bilirubin levels and jaundice within the first 24 hours—hallmark of pathologic jaundice.
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