A nurse on a pediatric unit is caring for a toddler who has poor dietary intake. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

A. "An incident report has been completed and sent to risk management." Incident reports are used for internal facility documentation and quality improvement but should not be mentioned in the medical record. Including this information could make the report discoverable in legal proceedings, which is why it should remain separate from the client’s medical documentation.
B. "The client fell because the assistive personnel did not place nonskid slippers on the client." This statement assigns blame without objective evidence and does not follow factual documentation principles. Medical records should include observable data, client statements, and assessments rather than subjective conclusions or assumptions about the cause of the fall.
C. "Client stated, 'I lost my balance and fell when I got out of bed to go to the bathroom.'" Including the client's direct statement ensures accurate, objective documentation. It provides firsthand information about the incident without making assumptions or assigning blame. Client statements should always be documented using quotation marks to maintain accuracy.
D. "The client does not appear to have any injuries resulting from the fall." This statement is subjective and may be misleading. A client could have internal injuries that are not immediately visible. Instead, the nurse should document a detailed physical assessment, such as "No visible injuries noted. Client denies pain or discomfort at this time."

A. Rigid abdomen. A rigid or board-like abdomen is characteristic of placental abruption, not placenta previa. Placental abruption involves premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall, leading to significant abdominal pain and uterine tenderness. In contrast, placenta previa typically presents with painless bleeding.
B. Increased fetal movement. Fetal movement is not directly affected by placenta previa unless there is severe hemorrhage leading to fetal distress. While decreased movement in cases of significant bleeding may indicate fetal compromise, increased movement is not a typical finding.
C. Persistent uterine contractions. Placenta previa does not usually cause persistent contractions. While mild uterine irritability may occur, placenta previa is primarily characterized by painless bleeding. Persistent contractions are more commonly associated with preterm labor or placental abruption.
D. Bright red vaginal bleeding. The hallmark sign of placenta previa is painless, bright red vaginal bleeding in the second or third trimester. This occurs due to the placenta covering or being near the cervical os, leading to bleeding as the cervix begins to dilate or efface.