The practical nurse (PN) is charting vital signs on a hand-writen flow sheet and realizes that an error has been made. What should the PN do to rectify this error?

"I will be back in 30 minutes to help you get out of bed and walk around the room today.”.

Choice B rationale:

Telling the client that she must ambulate to avoid complications (Choice B) may be true, but it comes across as authoritarian and may further upset the client. It is essential to address the client's feelings of anger and approach the situation with empathy and understanding.

Choice C rationale:

Acknowledging the client's anger about the pain of ambulation (Choice C) is a good start, but it is not enough. The nurse should follow up with a plan to assist and encourage the client to walk later, promoting collaboration in the healing process.

Choice D rationale:

Informing the client about specific instructions to ambulate (Choice D) is important, but the response lacks empathy and fails to address the client's feelings. The nurse needs to consider the client's mental disability and approach the situation with sensitivity.

The correct answer is choice A: Tell her to empty her bladder and call if she has a bloody show.

Choice A rationale:

The client is 39 weeks gestation and experiencing mild, irregular contractions. The fact that her cervix is already 3 cm dilated and the presenting part is at -1 station indicates that she is in early labor. Emptying the bladder can help relieve pressure on the cervix and promote progress in labor. Instructing her to call if she has a bloody show is essential because it could indicate that her labor is advancing, and she may need to come to the labor and delivery unit soon.

Choice B rationale:

Directing her to come to the unit for impending delivery is not appropriate at this stage, as she is only experiencing mild, irregular contractions and is likely in early labor. Coming to the unit too early may lead to unnecessary interventions and discomfort for the client.

Choice C rationale:

Asking the charge nurse for further instructions is not necessary in this situation. The client's condition is not emergent, and the practical nurse can handle the situation appropriately based on the information provided.

Choice D rationale:

Encouraging ambulation until the contractions are regular might be beneficial in some cases to promote labor progress. However, given that the client is already 3 cm dilated and experiencing mild, irregular contractions, it's better to address the issue of bladder emptying and potential bloody show.