A patient is in preterm labor at 30 weeks gestation.
Her OB orders antenatal steroids.
The order is for the nurse to administer betamethasone IM and to repeat the dose after 2 hours.
Betamethasone is available as 4mg/mL in 10 mL vials.
How many mL will the nurse draw up in the syringe for each dose?
0.5 mL
1 mL
1.5 mL
3 mL
The Correct Answer is D
Step 1 is to calculate the volume of betamethasone to be drawn up for each dose. The order is to administer betamethasone IM and to repeat the dose after 2 hours. Betamethasone is available as 4mg/mL. Therefore, to administer a dose of 12mg, the nurse would need to draw up 12mg ÷ 4mg/mL = 3mL for each dose.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
The client’s symptoms of headache, dizziness, blurred vision, 3+ edema in lower extremities, deep tendon reflexes (DTRs) 3+ with positive clonus, and a fetal heart rate (FHR) of 140 with minimal variability are indicative of preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and signs of damage to another organ system, often the liver and kidneys. It usually begins after 20 weeks of pregnancy in women whose blood pressure had been normal. Left untreated, preeclampsia can lead to serious complications for both the mother and baby. To address this condition, the nurse should: Monitor the client’s blood pressure regularly. Administer prescribed medications to control blood pressure and prevent seizures. The nurse should monitor the following parameters to assess the client’s progress: Blood pressure readings: Regular monitoring can help detect any sudden increases, which could indicate worsening preeclampsia. Urine protein levels: Protein in the urine is a common sign of preeclampsia and should be monitored regularly.
Choice B rationale
Chronic hypertension is a possibility, but it does not fully explain the client’s symptoms. While chronic hypertension can cause headaches and dizziness, it does not typically cause 3+ edema in the lower extremities or positive clonus. Furthermore, chronic hypertension would have been present before the pregnancy or diagnosed before the client reached 20 weeks of gestation.
Choice C rationale
While the client’s symptoms of headache, dizziness, and blurred vision could suggest a neurologic issue, the presence of 3+ edema in the lower extremities and positive clonus are more indicative of preeclampsia. Neurologic status would be monitored as part of the care for a client with preeclampsia.
Choice D rationale
Liver function studies would be relevant if there were symptoms or signs suggesting liver involvement such as upper right abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting, or jaundice. However, the client’s symptoms are more indicative of preeclampsia.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Step 1 is to calculate the total amount of Magnesium sulfate in the solution. This is done by multiplying the amount of Magnesium sulfate per mL (which is 50g/L or 0.05g/mL) by the total volume of the solution (which is 1000mL). So, 0.05g/mL × 1000mL = 50g.
Step 2 is to calculate the rate of the IV pump. The maintenance dose is 2g/hr. So, if there are 50g in 1000mL, then 2g would be in (2g ÷ 50g) × 1000mL = 40mL. Therefore, the IV pump should be set at 40 mL/hr.
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