A nurse on a labor unit is admitting a client who is lying supine in her bed and reports painful contractions. The nurse determines that the contractions have a duration of 1 min and a frequency of 3 min. The nurse obtains the following vital signs: fetal heart rate 130/min,
maternal heart rate 128/min, and maternal blood pressure 82/54 mm Hg. Which of the following is the first priority action for the nurse to take?
Reposition the client with one hip elevated or on her left side.
Notify the provider of the findings.
Ask the client if she needs pain medication.
Have the client empty her bladder.
The Correct Answer is A
A) Reposition the client with one hip elevated or on her left side: This is the correct first priority action. The client's vital signs indicate hypotension (low blood pressure), which may be caused by supine hypotensive syndrome. This condition occurs when the pregnant uterus compresses the vena cava, reducing blood return to the heart and causing a drop in blood pressure. Repositioning the client on her left side or elevating one hip can relieve the pressure on the vena cava and
improve blood flow to both the mother and the baby.
B) Notify the provider of the findings: While it is essential to inform the provider about the client's status, the first priority is to address the potential cause of hypotension and maternal discomfort.
C) Ask the client if she needs pain medication: Pain management is essential, but the client's vital signs and potential hypotensive condition take precedence as the first priority.
D) Have the client empty her bladder: Emptying the bladder can help reduce pressure on the vena cava and may improve blood flow, but it is not the first priority action in this situation. Repositioning the client is the initial priority to relieve supine hypotensive syndrome.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
The correct answer is: c. 42022
Choice A: 40122
Reason: This choice is incorrect because it indicates 4 pregnancies (correct), 0 term births (correct), 1 preterm birth (correct), 2 abortions (correct), but 2 living children (incorrect). The client has 2 living children, which is correct, but the term and preterm counts are not accurate.
Choice B: 20020
Reason: This choice is incorrect because it indicates 2 pregnancies (incorrect), 0 term births (correct), 0 preterm births (incorrect), 2 abortions (correct), and 0 living children (incorrect). The client has had 4 pregnancies, 1 preterm birth, and 2 living children.
Choice C: 42022
Reason: This choice is correct. It indicates 4 pregnancies (current pregnancy, elective abortion, twins, spontaneous abortion), 0 term births, 2 preterm births (twins at 36 weeks), 2 abortions (elective at 9 weeks, spontaneous at 15 weeks), and 2 living children (twins).
Choice D:
The GTPAL system is used to assess a client's obstetric history:
- G (Gravida): The total number of pregnancies, including the current one.
- T (Term births): The number of pregnancies carried to at least 37 weeks.
- P (Preterm births): The number of pregnancies delivered between 20 and 36 weeks, 6 days.
- A (Abortions): The number of pregnancies ending before 20 weeks (spontaneous or elective).
- L (Living children): The number of children currently alive.
For this client:
G (Gravida): 4 (one elective abortion, one twin pregnancy, one spontaneous abortion, and the current pregnancy).
- T (Term births): 0 (the twin pregnancy was delivered at 36 weeks, which is preterm).
- P (Preterm births): 1 (twins delivered at 36 weeks count as one preterm birth).
- A (Abortions): 2 (one elective abortion at 9 weeks, one spontaneous abortion at 15 weeks).
- L (Living children): 2 (the twins).
Thus, the GTPAL for this client is 4-0-1-2-2.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A: Fetal movements, also known as quickening, are usually felt by the mother between weeks 18 and 25 of pregnancy, not specifically at week 24.
Choice B: While the sex of the baby is determined at conception, it is not visually identifiable on ultrasound until around week 16 to 20, depending on the fetus's position and the quality of the ultrasound images.
Choice C: The baby's heartbeat can be visualized on ultrasound as early as 6 weeks of pregnancy. It becomes audible using a Doppler stethoscope around 8 to 9 weeks of pregnancy.
Choice D: Lanugo, the fine hair covering the baby's body, usually appears around weeks 20 to 24 of pregnancy and begins to diminish later in pregnancy, not specifically at week 36.
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