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.

Nursing Test Bank

Quiz #1: RN Exams Pharmacology Exams Quiz #2: RN Exams Medical-Surgical Exams Quiz #3: RN Exams Fundamentals Exams Quiz #4: RN Exams Maternal-Newborn Exams Quiz #5: RN Exams Anatomy and Physiology Exams Quiz #6: RN Exams Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Quiz #7: RN Exams Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Quiz #8: RN Exams Community Health Exams Quiz #9: RN Exams Promoting Health across the lifespan Exams Quiz #10: RN Exams Multidimensional care Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Quiz #1: Naxlex RN Comprehensive online practice 2019 B with NGN Quiz #2: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Quiz #3: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Exit Exam A Quiz #4: Naxlex HESI Exit LPN Exam Quiz #5: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor PN 2020 Quiz #6: Naxlex VATI PN Comprehensive Predictor 2020 Quiz #8: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 - Exam 1 Quiz #10: Naxlex HESI PN Exit exam Quiz #11: Naxlex HESI PN EXIT Exam 2

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A reason: Genetic changes and anomalies are not the most dangerous effect, as they are rare and not directly caused by smoking. Smoking can increase the risk of some birth defects, such as cleft lip and cleft palate, but these are not genetic changes and can be corrected by surgery. Smoking can also cause chromosomal abnormalities in the eggs, but these usually result in miscarriage or stillbirth, not live births.

Choice B reason:Maternal smoking is a significant risk factor for intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Nicotine and carbon monoxide from cigarettes reduce oxygen supply to the fetus, leading to lower birth weights and smaller body lengths.

Choice C reason: Fetal addiction to the substance inhaled is not the most dangerous effect, as it is not permanent and can be treated by medication and supportive care. Smoking can expose the fetus to nicotine, carbon monoxide, and other harmful chemicals, which can cross the placenta and affect the fetal brain and nervous system. Smoking can also cause withdrawal symptoms in the newborn, such as irritability, tremors, and difficulty feeding.

Choice D reason:Although prenatal exposure to smoking can affect neurodevelopment and is associated with behavioral issues, extensive central nervous system damage is not the most immediate or dangerous effect. The most critical concern remains intrauterine growth restriction.

A. Diabetes mellitus. B. Down syndrome. C. Spina bifida. D. Intrauterine growth restriction.

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Choice A reason: Diabetes mellitus is not a direct consequence of inadequate weight gain during pregnancy for the infant. However, maternal diabetes can increase the risk of fetal macrosomia (large birth weight), congenital anomalies, and neonatal hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in the infant.

Choice B reason: Down syndrome is not a direct consequence of inadequate weight gain during pregnancy for the infant. Down syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21 in the cells of the fetus. The risk of having a baby with Down syndrome increases with maternal age, but it is not related to maternal weight or nutrition².

Choice C reason: Spina bifida is not a direct consequence of inadequate weight gain during pregnancy for the infant. Spina bifida is a neural tube defect that occurs when the spine and spinal cord do not form properly in the fetus. The main risk factor for spina bifida is a lack of folic acid (a B vitamin) in the mother's diet before and during pregnancy.

Choice D reason: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a condition in which the fetus does not grow as expected and has a low birth weight. IUGR can have many causes, such as placental problems, infections, chromosomal abnormalities, and maternal factors. One of the maternal factors that can contribute to IUGR is inadequate weight gain during pregnancy, especially in underweight women. IUGR can increase the risk of complications for the infant, such as preterm birth, low Apgar score, hypothermia, hypoglycemia, and breathing problems⁵.

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

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

What is the most dangerous effect on the fetus of a mother who smokes cigarettes while pregnant?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

What are the possible consequences of inadequate weight gain during pregnancy for the infant?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

What should the nurse tell a pregnant woman at 10 weeks of gestation who jogs 3 or 4 times per week and is concerned about the effect of exercise on the fetus?

Care management of a woman diagnosed with acute pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) most likely would include:

What should the nurse do first if a pregnant woman at 32 weeks of gestation complains of feeling dizzy and light-headed while her fundal height is being measured and her skin is pale and moist?

Which pregnant woman should restrict her weight gain during pregnancy?

Which finding meets the criteria of a reassuring fetal heart rate (FHR) pattern?

Which of the following is a positive sign of pregnancy that can only be exhibited by a pregnant woman?

The nurse is caring for a woman who is at 24 weeks of gestation with suspected severe preeclampsia. Which signs and symptoms would the nurse expect to observe? (Select all that apply)

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