A patient who is 37 weeks pregnant and has gestational diabetes is admitted to the labor and delivery unit for induction.
The patient is placed on an external fetal monitor and receives an epidural anesthesia.Which action should the nurse take to identify a potential side effect of the epidural?
Assess the patient’s urine for acetone.
Monitor the patient’s deep tendon reflexes.
Assess the patient’s pupillary accommodation.
Monitor the patient’s blood pressure.
The Correct Answer is D
This is because epidural anesthesia can cause hypotension (low blood pressure) which can affect the placental blood flow and fetal oxygenation.
The nurse should monitor the patient’s blood pressure frequently and intervene if it drops below the baseline.
Choice A is wrong because assessing the patient’s urine for acetone is not relevant to the side effects of epidural anesthesia. Acetone in urine can indicate diabetic ketoacidosis, a complication of diabetes that occurs when the body breaks down fat for energy due to lack of insulin.
However, this is not related to epidural anesthesia.
Choice B is wrong because monitoring the patient’s deep tendon reflexes is not relevant to the side effects of epidural anesthesia. Deep tendon reflexes can be affected by magnesium sulfate, a medication used to prevent seizures in patients with preeclampsia (a condition characterized by high blood pressure and proteinuria in pregnancy).
However, this is not related to epidural anesthesia.
Choice C is wrong because assessing the patient’s pupillary accommodation is not relevant to the side effects of epidural anesthesia.
Pupillary accommodation is the ability of the eye to adjust its focus from distant to near objects. It can be impaired by drugs that affect the nervous system, such as opioids or anticholinergics.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
This is because circumcision is a surgical procedure that involves cutting off the foreskin of the penis, which may affect the urinary function of the baby.The nurse should make sure that the baby can urinate normally and without pain after the circumcision.
The amount of urine should be adequate for the baby’s weight and hydration status.
Choice B is wrong because the erectile ability of the penis is not affected by circumcision and is not a priority for discharge planning.
Choice C is wrong because the position of the urethral opening on the penis is not related to circumcision and should be assessed at birth, not at discharge.
Choice D is wrong because the presence of a small amount of white-yellow exudate around the glans tissue is normal and expected after circumcision.It is part of the healing process and does not indicate infection.The nurse should instruct the parents on how to care for the circumcised penis and when to seek medical attention if there are signs of complications.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
The correct answer is choice A: “The discharge that you are describing is normal at this time.” This is because the client is experiencing lochia serosa, which is a brownish discharge that occurs from about day 4 to day 10 postpartum.
Lochia serosa is composed of old blood, serum, leukocytes, and tissue debris.
It indicates that the placental site is healing and the uterus is involuting.
Choice B is wrong because fever is a sign of infection, not normal lochia.
Choice C is wrong because ovulation usually does not resume until 6 weeks postpartum for nonbreastfeeding women and later for breastfeeding women.
Choice D is wrong because iron supplements do not affect lochia color or amount.
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