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.

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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.

A. “Did you know that your baby’s development is affected by the type of drugs you use during the pregnancy?”. B. “Are you aware that using nonprescription medication during pregnancy may be regarded as child abuse?”. C. “What drugs have you used during your pregnancy?”. D. “Have you ever used street drugs?”.

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

The correct answer is choice C. “What drugs have you used during your pregnancy?”.

This question is open-ended and nonjudgmental, which encourages the patient to disclose more information about her drug use.

The nurse can then assess the type, frequency, and amount of drugs used and plan appropriate interventions.

Choice A is wrong because it is a closed-ended question that can be answered with a yes or no, and it implies criticism of the patient’s behavior, which may make her defensive and less willing to cooperate.

Choice B is wrong because it is also a closed-ended question that can be answered with a yes or no, and it may frighten or anger the patient, who may not be aware of the legal implications of her drug use.

Choice D is wrong because it is too vague and may not cover all the possible drugs that the patient may have used, such as prescription medications, alcohol, or tobacco.

It also labels the patient as a drug user, which may offend her or make her feel ashamed.

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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 client who is two weeks postpartum calls the office and tells a nurse, "l am having a small amount of brownish discharge from my vagina." Which response is appropriate for the nurse to make?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

The nurse suspects drug abuse in a patient admitted with no prenatal care and a diagnosis of abruptio placentae.Which question would elicit the most information from the patient concerning the suspected drug use?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

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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?