What is the best nursing intervention for a pregnant woman in her third trimester who complains of feeling faint, dizzy, and agitated while her vital signs are being assessed?

Have the patient stand up and retake her blood pressure.

Have the patient lie supine for 5 minutes and recheck her blood pressure on both arms.

Have the patient sit down and hold her arm in a dependent position.

Have the patient turn to her left side and recheck her blood pressure in 5 minutes.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

Choice A reason: This is not a good intervention, as it may worsen the symptoms of faintness, dizziness, and agitation. Standing up can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure (orthostatic hypotension), which can reduce the blood flow to the brain and the fetus. This can cause lightheadedness, blurred vision, and loss of consciousness in the woman, as well as fetal distress or hypoxia.

Choice B reason: This is not a good intervention, as it may also worsen the symptoms of faintness, dizziness, and agitation. Lying supine can cause compression of the inferior vena cava (a large vein that returns blood to the heart) by the gravid uterus, which can reduce the cardiac output (the amount of blood pumped by the heart) and the blood pressure. This can cause nausea, sweating, and visual disturbances in the woman, as well as fetal distress or hypoxia.

Choice C reason: This is not a good intervention, as it may not improve the symptoms of faintness, dizziness, and agitation. Sitting down and holding the arm in a dependent position can lower the blood pressure in the arm, but not in the rest of the body. This can cause inaccurate readings of the blood pressure and delay the detection of hypotension or hypertension. This can also cause discomfort and pain in the arm due to impaired circulation.

Choice D reason: This is the best intervention, as it can relieve the symptoms of faintness, dizziness, and agitation by improving the blood flow to the brain and the fetus. Turning to the left side can reduce the pressure of the uterus on the inferior vena cava and increase the cardiac output and the blood pressure. This can also optimize the placental perfusion (the blood flow to the placenta) and the fetal oxygenation.

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A reason: Fetal sleep cycles are a normal physiological cause of decreased variability in the FHR, which is the fluctuation of the baseline FHR above and below 2 cycles per minute. Fetal sleep cycles usually last 20 to 40 minutes and do not affect the fetal well-being.

Choice B reason: Umbilical cord compression is an abnormal cause of decreased variability in the FHR, as it reduces the blood flow and oxygen delivery to the fetus. It can also cause variable decelerations, which are abrupt decreases in the FHR below the baseline.

Choice C reason: Altered cerebral blood flow is an abnormal cause of decreased variability in the FHR, as it indicates a compromise in the fetal central nervous system. It can also cause late decelerations, which are gradual decreases in the FHR after the peak of a contraction.

Choice D reason: Fetal hypoxemia is an abnormal cause of decreased variability in the FHR, as it reflects a severe lack of oxygen in the fetal blood. It can also cause sinusoidal pattern, which is a smooth, undulating waveform in the FHR.

A. primary dysmenorrhea. B. endometriosis. C. secondary dysmenorrhea. D. PMS.

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A reason: This is incorrect because primary dysmenorrhea is menstrual pain that is not associated with any underlying condition. It usually begins with the onset of menstruation and lasts for a few days. It does not cause pain during intercourse or infertility.

Choice B reason: This is correct because endometriosis is a condition where the endometrial tissue that normally lines the uterus grows outside the uterus, such as on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or pelvic organs. It causes chronic inflammation, scarring, and adhesions that can result in severe pain during menstruation and intercourse, as well as infertility.

Choice C reason: This is incorrect because secondary dysmenorrhea is menstrual pain that is caused by an underlying condition, such as fibroids, pelvic inflammatory disease, or adenomyosis. It usually develops later in life and lasts longer than primary dysmenorrhea. It may or may not cause pain during intercourse or infertility, depending on the condition.

Choice D reason: This is incorrect because PMS stands for premenstrual syndrome, which is a group of physical and emotional symptoms that occur before menstruation. It may include mood swings, irritability, bloating, headaches, or breast tenderness. It does not cause severe pain during menstruation or intercourse, or infertility.

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What is the best nursing intervention for a pregnant woman in her third trimester who complains of feeling faint, dizzy, and agitated while her vital signs are being assessed?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

The most common cause of decreased variability in the fetal heart rate (FHR) that lasts 30 minutes or less is:

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A woman complains of severe abdominal and pelvic pain around the time of menstruation that has gotten worse over the last 5 years. She also complains of pain during intercourse and has tried unsuccessfully to get pregnant for the past 18 months. These symptoms are most likely related to:

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

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The nurse teaches a pregnant woman about the presumptive, probable, and positive signs of pregnancy. The woman demonstrates understanding of the nurse's instructions if she states that a positive sign of pregnancy is:

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