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.

Answer and Explanation

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

Quiz #1: RN Exams Pharmacology Exams Quiz #2: RN Exams Medical-Surgical Exams Quiz #3: RN Exams Fundamentals Exams Quiz #4: RN Exams Maternal-Newborn Exams Quiz #5: RN Exams Anatomy and Physiology Exams Quiz #6: RN Exams Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Quiz #7: RN Exams Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Quiz #8: RN Exams Community Health Exams Quiz #9: RN Exams Promoting Health across the lifespan Exams Quiz #10: RN Exams Multidimensional care Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Quiz #1: Naxlex RN Comprehensive online practice 2019 B with NGN Quiz #2: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Quiz #3: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Exit Exam A Quiz #4: Naxlex HESI Exit LPN Exam Quiz #5: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor PN 2020 Quiz #6: Naxlex VATI PN Comprehensive Predictor 2020 Quiz #8: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 - Exam 1 Quiz #10: Naxlex HESI PN Exit exam Quiz #11: Naxlex HESI PN EXIT Exam 2

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

The correct answer is choice B. Syphilis.A negative rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test indicates that a patient is probably not infected with syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum.The RPR test works by detecting the nonspecific antibodies that your body produces while fighting the infection.

Choice A is wrong because herpes simplex II is a viral infection that causes genital herpes, and it is not detected by the RPR test.

Choice C is wrong because gonorrhea is a bacterial infection caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and it is also not detected by the RPR test.

Choice D is wrong because condylomata are genital warts caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), and they are not detected by the RPR test either.

The RPR test is a screening test, and it can give false-positive results due to other conditions or infections.Therefore, a positive RPR test should always be confirmed by a more specific treponemal test, such as TPPA or FTA-ABS.The RPR test can also be used to monitor the treatment response of syphilis, as the antibody levels should decrease after effective antibiotic therapy.

A. Offer her the opportunity for counseling to help her grieve. B. Encourage the woman to hold the deceased twin as well as the living twin. C. Remind her that she should be happy that one child survived and is healthy. D. Assist the woman to take pictures of both babies.

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

The correct answer is choice C. Reminding her that she should be happy that one child survived and is healthy is the least helpful nursing action in supporting the woman as she copes with her loss.

This statement minimizes her grief and implies that she should not feel sad about the deceased twin.

It also disregards her attachment to both babies and her need to mourn the loss of one of them.

Choice A is wrong because offering her the opportunity for counseling to help her grieve is a helpful nursing action that recognizes her emotional distress and provides her with professional support.

Choice B is wrong because encouraging the woman to hold the deceased twin as well as the living twin is a helpful nursing action that allows her to acknowledge and bond with both babies and to create memories that may facilitate healing.

Choice D is wrong because assisting the woman to take pictures of both babies is a helpful nursing action that provides her with tangible mementos of her twins and honors their

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

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?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse is caring for a patient being evaluated for sexually transmitted infection (STI).A negative rapid plasma reagin (RPR) indicates that a patient is probably not infected with which STI?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A woman gives birth to twin girls, one of whom is stillborn. Which nursing action would be least helpful in supporting the woman as she copes with her loss?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

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?

A patient states, “My water just broke.” The nurse verifies that her membranes have ruptured spontaneously. Which action should the nurse take next?

The newborn of a patient suspected to have used drugs during the prenatal period is admitted to the nursery.The nurse caring for the newborn notes that the infant is beginning to exhibit signs of drug withdrawal.Which action should the nurse take?

The mother of a 4-hour-old newborn reports to a nurse, “My son is producing breast milk.” The nurse’s response should be based on which understanding about newborn physiology? This is:.

A patient who is 17 weeks pregnant shares several pieces of information with the nurse. Which statement made by the patient would indicate the patient is at risk for having an infant with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR)?

When assessing a newborn, which is the best method for the nurse to use to elicit the Moro reflex?

A patient who is 38 weeks pregnant is admitted to the hospital in active labor. On admission, the patient says, “For the past ten hours, I have been leaking small amounts of urine.” Which action should the nurse take initially?

In planning the postpartum care of a multipara who had a normal pregnancy, labor, and delivery, which factor should be considered? The client needs to have:

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?