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.

Answer and Explanation

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.

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Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Leopold maneuvers are used to determine the fetal position and presentation by palpating the abdomen. ROA stands for Right Occiput Anterior, which means the baby's head is presenting and facing towards the mother's right side (Occiput) and positioned anteriorly (front of the pelvis).

This position is a common and favorable presentation for a vaginal delivery.

Choice A: Shoulder presentation is when the baby is presenting with the shoulder rather than the head. It is an abnormal presentation and requires a cesarean delivery.

Choice B: Mentum presentation is a type of face presentation, where the baby's chin (mentum) is presenting instead of the head. It is also an abnormal presentation and usually requires a cesarean delivery.

Choice C: Breech presentation is when the baby's buttocks or feet are presenting first instead of the head. It is another abnormal presentation that may require a cesarean delivery or careful vaginal delivery with a skilled healthcare provider.

A. This test assesses fetal lung maturity in the premature fetus. B. It provides an assessment of various signs of physical and physiological wellbeing in the fetus. C. This test identifies an Rh incompatibility between an Rhnegative mother and her unborn fetus. D. It is a maternal blood screening test to identify neural tube defects (also known as spinal defects) and Down syndrome in the fetus.

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Choice A: Fetal lung maturity is not assessed through maternal serum alphafetoprotein testing. It is usually evaluated through tests such as amniocentesis or specialized ultrasound examinations closer to the third trimester.
Choice B: The maternal serum alphafetoprotein test specifically screens for certain birth defects and genetic conditions in the fetus, rather than general signs of physical and physiological
wellbeing.

Choice C: The maternal serum alphafetoprotein test is not used to identify Rh incompatibility. Rh incompatibility is determined through blood tests that assess the Rh factor of the mother's blood and the Rh status of the baby.
Choice D: The maternal serum alphafetoprotein test is a blood screening test that can identify neural tube defects (such as spina bifida) and chromosomal abnormalities (such as Down syndrome) in the fetus. The test measures the levels of alphafetoprotein in the mother's blood, and abnormal levels may indicate the need for further diagnostic testing.

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Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse is performing Leopold maneuvers on a client who is in labor and determines the fetus is in an ROA position. Which of the following fetal presentations should the nurse document in the client's medical record?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled for a maternal serum alphafetoprotein test at 15 weeks of gestation. The nurse provides which of the following explanations about this test to the client?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A nurse in a prenatal clinic is caring for a client who is at 7 weeks of gestation. The client reports urinary frequency and asks if this will continue until delivery. Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

A nurse in a prenatal clinic is caring for a client who is at 39 weeks of gestation and who asks about the signs that precede the onset of labor. Which of the following should the nurse identify as a sign that precedes labor?

A nurse in a clinic is reviewing the medical records of a group of clients who are pregnant. The nurse should anticipate the provider will order a maternal serum alphafetoprotein (MSAFP) screening for which of the following clients?

A nurse is observing the electronic fetal heart rate monitor tracing for a client who is at 40 weeks of gestation and is in labor. The nurse should suspect a problem with the umbilical cord when he observes which of the following patterns?

A nurse is caring for a client who experienced a cesarean birth due to dysfunctional labor. The client states that she is disappointed that she did not have natural childbirth. Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

A nurse on the labor and delivery unit is caring for a client following a vaginal examination by the provider, which is documented as: 1. Which of the following interpretations of this finding should the nurse make?

A nurse is admitting a client who is at 38 weeks of gestation and is in the active phase of the first stage of labor. Which of the following assessment findings is the first priority for the nurse to report to the provider?