A patient’s labor is induced using an intravenous infusion of 1,000 mL Ringer’s lactate with 10 units of oxytocin.
Two hours later, the nurse notes a pattern of late fetal heart rate decelerations detected on the fetal monitor.Which action is essential for the nurse to take first?

Document the findings.

Pause the oxytocin infusion.

Raise the head of the patient’s bed 30 degrees.

Notify the health care provider.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

This is because late fetal heart rate decelerations are a sign of uteroplacental insufficiency, which means that the placenta is not delivering enough oxygen and nutrients to the fetus. Oxytocin can cause uterine tachysystole, which is excessive and frequent contractions that reduce blood flow to the placenta.Therefore, stopping the oxytocin infusion can help improve placental perfusion and fetal oxygenation.

Choice A is wrong because documenting the findings is not a priority action in this situation.

The nurse should first intervene to address the cause of late decelerations and then document the actions and outcomes.

Choice C is wrong because raising the head of the patient’s bed 30 degrees does not directly affect the placental blood flow or fetal oxygenation.

It may help with maternal comfort and breathing, but it is not an essential action for late decelerations.

Choice D is wrong because notifying the health care provider is not the first action to take.The nurse should first attempt to correct the cause of late decelerations by pausing the oxytocin infusion and then notify the health care provider if there is no improvement or if there are other signs of fetal distress.

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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

The correct answer is choice C. Remind the patient that the nurse will stay with her during the examination.

This measure would help reduce the patient’s anxiety by providing emotional support and reassurance.

The patient may feel scared, embarrassed, or vulnerable during the pelvic examination, especially since she is young and pregnant.

Having a trusted person with her can help her cope with these feelings.

Choice A is wrong because it may imply that the examination will be painful and increase the patient’s anxiety.

Choice B is wrong because it may make the patient feel like she is not being treated as an individual and that her concerns are not valid.

Choice D is wrong because it may make the patient feel rushed or pressured and not allow her to ask questions or express her feelings.

A. Take the mother’s vital signs every 15 minutes. B. Send a specimen of the fluid to the laboratory for analysis. C. Have a suction catheter available for use at delivery. D. Prepare a slide of the fluid for fern testing.

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

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.

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A patient’s labor is induced using an intravenous infusion of 1,000 mL Ringer’s lactate with 10 units of oxytocin. Two hours later, the nurse notes a pattern of late fetal heart rate decelerations detected on the fetal monitor.Which action is essential for the nurse to take first?

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A 14-year-old patient visits the antepartal clinic because she has missed three menstrual periods.The patient is to have a pelvic examination. In addition to explaining the procedure, which measure would best help reduce the patient’s anxiety?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A patient’s amniotic fluid is meconium-stained. Which action should the nurse plan to take?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving oxytocin injection intravenously for labor induction.The nurse should monitor this patient for which adverse effect of oxytocin?

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On her second postpartum day, the mother of a newborn says, “The doctor says the baby has physiologic jaundice. Even though it is supposed to be normal, I don’t understand why it occurs.” Which fact regarding physiologic jaundice should form the basis of the nurse’s response?

nurse hears a client in active labor say to her husband, “Don’t touch me. Stay away.” The husband states, “I don’t know what to do. Everything I do is wrong.” Which response by the nurse would be the most supportive?

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A patient’s labor is induced using an intravenous infusion of 1,000 mL Ringer’s lactate with 10 units of oxytocin.
Two hours later, the nurse notes a pattern of late fetal heart rate decelerations detected on the fetal monitor.Which action is essential for the nurse to take first?