A patient’s amniotic fluid is meconium-stained. Which action should the nurse plan to take?
Take the mother’s vital signs every 15 minutes.
Send a specimen of the fluid to the laboratory for analysis.
Have a suction catheter available for use at delivery.
Prepare a slide of the fluid for fern testing.
The Correct Answer is C
The correct answer is choice C. Have a suction catheter available for use at delivery. This is because meconium-stained amniotic fluid indicates that the fetus has passed meconium (first stool) before birth, which can be a sign of fetal distress or hypoxia. Meconium can block the airways and cause breathing problems for the newborn, so suctioning the mouth and nose (or the trachea if needed) is important to prevent meconium aspiration syndrome.
Choice A is wrong because taking the mother’s vital signs every 15 minutes is not a specific intervention for meconium-stained amniotic fluid.
Vital signs should be monitored regularly during labor regardless of the fluid color.
Choice B is wrong because sending a specimen of the fluid to the laboratory for analysis is not a priority action.The color and consistency of the fluid can be observed by the nurse and documented.
The laboratory analysis will not change the immediate management of the newborn.
Choice D is wrong because preparing a slide of the fluid for fern testing is not relevant for meconium-stained amniotic fluid.
Fern testing is used to confirm the rupture of membranes by detecting a fern-like pattern of amniotic fluid under a microscope.It is not useful for assessing the presence or severity of meconium-stained amniotic fluid.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
The correct answer is choice B. Insulin amount needs will continue to increase throughout the second and third trimesters.This is because gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that develops during pregnancy, usually during the 2nd or 3rd trimester.It is caused by hormonal changes that interfere with the action of insulin, leading to high blood sugar levels.As the pregnancy progresses, the placenta produces more hormones that increase insulin resistance, so the mother needs more insulin to keep her blood sugar within normal range.
Choice A is wrong because insulin amount needs will not remain stable during the third trimester.They will increase as the placenta grows and produces more hormones that cause insulin resistance.
Choice C is wrong because insulin amount needs will not decrease during the third trimester.They will increase as the placenta grows and produces more hormones that cause insulin resistance.
Choice D is wrong because insulin amount needs will not remain stable for the rest of the second and during the third trimesters.They will increase as the pregnancy progresses and the placenta produces more hormones that increase insulin resistance.
Normal ranges for blood sugar during pregnancy are: fasting < 95 mg/dL, 1 hour after meal < 140 mg/dL, 2 hours after meal < 120 mg/dL.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
The correct answer is choice A and it indicates fetal distress because it is a sign oflate deceleration.Late decelerations are due touteroplacental insufficiencyas the result of decreased blood flow and oxygen to the fetus during the uterine contractions.This causeshypoxemiaand can lead to fetal acidosis and neurological damage.
Choice B is wrong because it indicates anormal variabilityin the fetal heart rate, which reflects a healthy autonomic nervous system.A normal fetal heart rate is 120-160 beats per minute.
Choice C is wrong because it indicates anearly accelerationin the fetal heart rate, which is a benign finding that may occur with fetal movement or stimulation.
Choice D is wrong because it indicates anearly decelerationin the fetal heart rate, which is a normal response to fetal head compression during contractions.
It does not indicate fetal distress.
Normal ranges for fetal heart rate patterns are:
• Baseline: 120-160 beats per minute
• Variability: 6-25 beats per minute
• Accelerations: at least 15 beats per minute above baseline for at least 15 seconds
• Decelerations: none or early (mirror contractions)
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