The nurse is assessing a newborn who was precipitously delivered at 38-weeks gestation The newborn is tremulous, tachycardic, and hypertensive. Which assessment action is most important for the nurse to implement?
Obtain a drug screen for cocaine
Weigh and measure the newborn
Determine reactivity of neonatal reflexes
Perform gestational age assessment
The Correct Answer is A
A. Obtain a drug screen for cocaine: Given the symptoms described (tremulous, tachycardic, hypertensive), there may be concern about drug exposure, and cocaine is a substance known to cause such symptoms in newborns. Therefore, obtaining a drug screen for cocaine is a reasonable and important action to determine if there was prenatal exposure.
B. Weigh and measure the newborn: While weighing and measuring the newborn is a routine part of the newborn assessment, it may not be the most crucial action in this context. The symptoms described suggest the need for a more immediate assessment related to possible drug exposure.
C. Determine reactivity of neonatal reflexes: Assessing the reactivity of neonatal reflexes is an important part of the newborn assessment, but in this specific situation, the symptoms described (tremulous, tachycardic, hypertensive) may warrant a more focused and immediate assessment related to drug exposure.
D. Perform gestational age assessment: Gestational age assessment is essential for understanding the newborn's maturity and adjusting care accordingly. However, in this scenario, the immediate concern seems to be the symptoms the newborn is presenting with, and addressing the possibility of drug exposure takes precedence.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Epidural block: Epidural anesthesia is a regional anesthesia that blocks sensations in a specific region of the body. It is commonly used in labor and delivery to provide pain relief by injecting anesthetic medication into the epidural space, numbing the lower half of the body.
B. Saddle block: A saddle block, also known as a subarachnoid block, is a type of spinal anesthesia. It involves injecting anesthetic medication into the subarachnoid space, providing numbness to the lower half of the body, including the perineum.
C. Paracervical block: A paracervical block involves injecting a local anesthetic around the cervix. It is used to provide pain relief during certain medical procedures, such as cervical dilation or biopsy. It does not provide anesthesia to the entire perineum.
D. Pudendal block: A pudendal block involves injecting a local anesthetic into the pudendal nerve, which supplies sensation to the perineum. It is often used during the second stage of labor to provide localized pain relief during the delivery of the baby's head.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Review the fetal heart rate pattern: Checking the fetal heart rate (FHR) pattern is crucial during labor to ensure the baby is tolerating labor well and there are no signs of fetal distress. However, when the client expresses a need to use the bathroom, this may not be the immediate action required.
B. Check the pH of the vaginal fluid: Checking the pH of the vaginal fluid is not typically an initial action when a laboring client expresses a need to go to the bathroom. Monitoring the pH may be relevant for various reasons, but it's not a primary consideration in this context.
C. Determine cervical dilation: The initial examination revealed the cervix was 3 cm dilated. While reassessing the cervical dilation could provide information about the progress of labor, it may not be the most immediate action needed when the client wants to use the bathroom.
D. Palpate the client's bladder: This is the most relevant action when a laboring client expresses a desire to go to the bathroom. Palpating the bladder can help determine if it's full, which is important because a full bladder might impede labor progress or cause discomfort during contractions.
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