A patient is admitted to the postpartum unit one hour after a sterile vaginal delivery of a normal neonate weighing 8 pounds 2 ounces (3.7 kg). When the client's fundus becomes boggy and displaced above the umbilicus, which action should the practical nurse (PN) take first?
Take the vital signs and open the IV infusion rate of oxytocin.
Notify the registered nurse (RN) that the client's bladder is distended.
Put the infant to breast to suckle and stimulate oxytocin secretion.
Massage the fundus and expel retained lochia and clots.
The Correct Answer is D
The practical nurse (PN) should first massage the fundus and expel retained lochia and clots to help the uterus contract and prevent postpartum hemorrhage.
Taking the vital signs and opening the IV infusion rate of oxytocin (A) may be necessary but not as urgent as massaging the fundus.
Notifying the registered nurse (RN) that the client's bladder is distended (B) is not relevant to addressing the client's boggy and displaced fundus.
Putting the infant to breast to suckle and stimulate oxytocin secretion (C) is a valid intervention, but it is not the first priority when the client's fundus becomes boggy and displaced above the umbilicus.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Restlessness, confusion, and agitation are common symptoms of dementia, particularly in the evening, a phenomenon known as sundowning. Therefore, the PN should implement interventions that can help to prevent or minimize these symptoms. Assigning the client to a room close to the nurses' station can help to provide constant observation and reassurance and can help to prevent the client from wandering or becoming disoriented.
A. Delaying administration of nighttime medications until after visitors have left may be appropriate, but it is not the first intervention to be implemented in this scenario.
B. Administering a prescribed PRN benzodiazepine at the onset of a confused state may be appropriate in some cases, but it should not be the first intervention to be implemented in this scenario.
D. Asking family members about how they dealt with the client in the evening may be helpful, but it is not the first intervention to be implemented in this scenario.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
The greatest priority for the practical nurse to monitor during the administration of epidural anesthesia is maternal blood pressure (BP). Epidural anesthesia can cause maternal hypotension due to vasodilation and decreased venous return, which can result in decreased fetal perfusion and oxygenation. Therefore, it is important for the practical nurse to monitor maternal BP frequently and promptly report any significant changes to the healthcare provider. Options A, C, and D are also important assessments, but they are not the priority in this scenario.
Therefore, options A, C, and D are not answers because they are not the priority assessment during the administration of epidural anesthesia.
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