The nurse is continuing to care for the client.

Nurses' Notes.

Day 1, 0900:. Day 1, 0930:. Client is at 31 weeks of gestation and presents with a severe.

headache unrelieved by acetaminophen.

Client also reports.

urinary frequency and decreased fetal movement.

Client is a G3. P2 with one preterm birth.

Client reports a constant and throbbing headache and rates it. as a 6 on a scale of 0 to 10. Denies visual disturbances.

+3. pitting edema in bilateral lower extremities.

Patellar reflex 4+. without the presence of clonus.

Client reports occasional.

nighttime leg cramps.

Reports three fetal movements within the.

last 30 min.

External fetal monitor applied with a baseline FHR.

140/min with occasional accelerations and moderate variability.

No uterine contractions noted.

Vital Signs.

Day 1, 0900:. Temperature (oral) 36.9° C (98.4° ). Heart rate 72/min.

Respiratory rate 16/min.

BP 162/112 mm Hg. Oxygen saturation 979% on room air.

Day 1, 0930:. Temperature (oral) 37.1° C (98.8° ). Heart rate 84/min.

Respiratory rate 18/min.

BP 166/110 mm Hg. Oxygen saturation 999% on room air.

Color yelow yelow). pH 5.9 (4.6 to 8). Protein 3+ (negative). Specific gravity 1.013 (1.005 to 1.03). Leukocyte esterase negative (negative). Nitrites negative (negative). Ketones negative (negative). Crystals negative (negative). Casts negative (negative). Glucose trace (negative). WBC 5 (0 to 4). WBC casts none (none). RBC 1 (less than or equal to 2). RBC casts none (none). Day 1, 1030:. CBC:. Hemoglobin 18.0 g/dL (12 to 16 g/dL). Hematocrit 35% (37 to 479%). Platelets 98,000/mm³ (150,000 to 400,000/mm³). BUN 19 mg/dL (10 to 20 mg/dL). Creatinine 0.8 mg/dL (0.5 to 1 mg/d). WBC 8,000/mm³ (5,000 to 10,000/mm³). Glucose 85 mg/dL (74 to 106 mg/dL). Liver Enzymes:. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 40 units/L (4 to 36 units/L). Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) 42 units/L (0 to 35 units/L). Total bilirubin 1.2 mg/dL (0.3 to 1 mg/dL). The nurse is reviewing the assessment findings.

For each assessment finding, click to specify if the finding is consistent with.

preeclampsia or HELLP syndrome.

Each finding may support more than one.

disease process.

The correct answer is D. Use a solution of 0.9% sodium chloride to flush the transfusion tubing.

Choice A reason: Storing a unit of blood at room temperature for 1 hour prior to the infusion is not recommended. Blood products should be kept refrigerated until just before the transfusion to minimize the risk of bacterial contamination. The recommended storage temperature for packed RBCs is 1-6°C. If blood is left at room temperature, it should be infused within 30 minutes to ensure safety.

Choice B reason: Ensuring that the transfusion is completed within 6 hours is not correct. The standard practice is to complete a blood transfusion over 2 to 4 hours, depending on the volume and the patient’s condition. This is to reduce the risk of bacterial growth and transfusion reactions. Prolonging the transfusion time beyond 4 hours increases the risk of bacterial contamination and can compromise the efficacy of the transfused red blood cells.

Choice C reason: Obtaining venous access using a 22-gauge needle is not ideal for a transfusion of packed RBCs. A larger bore needle, typically an 18-gauge or 20-gauge, is preferred to ensure adequate flow of the viscous packed RBCs and to prevent hemolysis. The smaller the gauge number, the larger the needle diameter, so a 22-gauge needle might be too small and could damage the red blood cells during the transfusion.

Choice D reason: Using a solution of 0.9% sodium chloride to flush the transfusion tubing is the correct action. Normal saline is isotonic and is the only fluid compatible with packed RBCs. It is used to prime the transfusion set and to flush the line before and after the transfusion to prevent hemolysis and clotting within the tubing.

The correct answer is D.

Choice A reason: “A. Using this machine increases my risk of overdose.” This statement is incorrect because PCA pumps are designed with safety mechanisms to prevent overdose. The pump is programmed to deliver a specific dose of medication at set intervals, and it will not dispense more medication than what is prescribed by the healthcare provider.

Choice B reason: “B. I can get pain medication any time as long as I press the button.” While it is true that the patient can self-administer medication, PCA pumps have a lockout interval that prevents the machine from delivering another dose until a certain amount of time has passed, ensuring that the patient cannot receive medication too frequently.

Choice C reason: “C. My partner can press my pain medication button for me if I am sleeping.” This statement is incorrect. Only the patient should press the button on the PCA pump to ensure that the medication is administered safely and according to the patient’s current level of pain. Allowing someone else to press the button could lead to unsafe dosing.

Choice D reason: “D. I will receive a limited amount of pain medication when I press the button.” This is the correct statement. The PCA pump allows the patient to administer a controlled amount of pain medication within safe limits set by the healthcare provider. The pump is programmed to deliver a specific dose of medication, and there is a limit to the number of doses that can be administered per hour.