A nurse is reviewing laboratory results of a pregnant patient.Which result will require further assessment?

This is because the patient is experiencing supine hypotension syndrome, which occurs when the weight of the gravid uterus compresses the inferior vena cava and reduces venous return and cardiac output. Turning the patient onto her side will relieve the pressure and improve blood flow.

Choice A is wrong because taking the patient’s blood pressure will not address the cause of her symptoms and may delay appropriate intervention.

Choice B is wrong because breathing into her cupped hands will not improve her circulation and may increase her carbon dioxide levels.

Choice D is wrong because elevating the patient’s legs will not relieve the compression of the inferior vena cava and may worsen her condition.Normal blood pressure for a pregnant woman is 110/70 to 120/80 mmHg.Normal heart rate for a pregnant woman is 60 to 90 beats per minute.Normal respiratory rate for a pregnant woman is 16 to 24 breaths per minute.

The correct answer is choice C. Have a suction catheter available for use at delivery.This is because meconium-stained amniotic fluid indicates that the fetus has passed meconium (first stool) before birth, which can be a sign of fetal distress or hypoxia.Meconium can block the airways and cause breathing problems for the newborn, so suctioning the mouth and nose (or the trachea if needed) is important to prevent meconium aspiration syndrome.

Choice A is wrong because taking the mother’s vital signs every 15 minutes is not a specific intervention for meconium-stained amniotic fluid.

Vital signs should be monitored regularly during labor regardless of the fluid color.

Choice B is wrong because sending a specimen of the fluid to the laboratory for analysis is not a priority action.The color and consistency of the fluid can be observed by the nurse and documented.

The laboratory analysis will not change the immediate management of the newborn.

Choice D is wrong because preparing a slide of the fluid for fern testing is not relevant for meconium-stained amniotic fluid.

Fern testing is used to confirm the rupture of membranes by detecting a fern-like pattern of amniotic fluid under a microscope.It is not useful for assessing the presence or severity of meconium-stained amniotic fluid.