A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a postpartum client about bathing her newborn.

Which of the following statements should the nurse include?

The statement by the parent that they can place a rolled towel on each side of their newborn's head until he can hold his head up indicates an understanding of the teaching. This is a safe and appropriate way to provide support for the newborn's head while in a car seat.

a) Securing the seatbelt across the newborn's lap is not safe. The seatbelt should be positioned across the newborn's chest and over their hips.

b) Moving a child to a booster seat when they weigh 20 pounds is not safe. Children should remain in a rear-facing car seat until they are at least 2 years old or until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by the car seat's manufacturer.

c) Turning the car seat forward-facing when the child is 10 months old is not safe. Children should remain in a rear-facing car seat until they are at least 2 years old or until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by the car seat's manufacturer.

a. "The machine is programmed to prevent you from administering more than a safe dose."

When reinforcing teaching about epidural PCA (patient-controlled analgesia) with a client in active labor, it is important for the nurse to inform the client about the safety features of the machine. By explaining that the machine is programmed to prevent the client from administering more than a safe dose, the nurse reassures the client that they have control over their pain relief while minimizing the risk of overdose.

Option b, "During medication administration, you will not be able to move your legs freely," is not an accurate statement regarding epidural PCA. While epidural analgesia may cause temporary weakness or loss of sensation in the lower body, the ability to move the legs freely is not necessarily completely impaired. The degree of mobility can vary depending on the dosage and specific characteristics of the epidural.

Option c, "This method of pain control will shorten the second stage of labor," is not a valid statement. Epidural PCA is primarily used for pain relief during labor and delivery but does not directly affect the progression or duration of the second stage of labor, which involves pushing and the delivery of the baby.

Option d, "This type of anesthesia commonly causes a postpartum headache," is also incorrect. While headaches can occur as a potential side effect of epidural anesthesia, they are not specifically associated with epidural PCA. Postpartum headaches can have various causes and are not exclusively related to the use of epidural PCA.

By emphasizing the safety features of the machine and explaining that it prevents the administration of excessive doses, the nurse ensures that the client understands the appropriate use of the epidural PCA for pain control during labor.