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?
Raise the woman's legs.
Have the woman breathe into a paper bag.
Turn the woman on her side.
Assess the woman's blood pressure and pulse.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A reason: Raising the woman's legs is not the best initial response, as it may worsen the dizziness and light-headedness. This is because raising the legs can increase the blood flow to the lower extremities and decrease the blood flow to the brain, which can cause hypotension (low blood pressure) and hypoxia (low oxygen) in the woman and the fetus.
Choice B reason: Having the woman breathe into a paper bag is not the best initial response, as it may not address the underlying cause of the dizziness and light-headedness. This technique is usually used for hyperventilation (rapid breathing), which can cause respiratory alkalosis (high blood pH) and reduce the carbon dioxide levels in the blood. However, the woman may not be hyperventilating, but rather experiencing supine hypotensive syndrome (low blood pressure when lying on the back) due to the pressure of the uterus on the inferior vena cava (a large vein that returns blood to the heart)².
Choice C reason: Turning the woman on her side is the best initial response, as it can relieve the dizziness and light-headedness by improving the blood flow to the brain and the fetus. This is because turning the woman on her side can reduce the pressure of the uterus on the inferior vena cava and increase the cardiac output (the amount of blood pumped by the heart) and the blood pressure. The left lateral position is preferred, as it can also optimize the placental perfusion (the blood flow to the placenta) and the fetal oxygenation.
Choice D reason: Assessing the woman's blood pressure and pulse is an important response, but not the first one. After turning the woman on her side, the nurse should monitor the vital signs and the fetal heart rate to evaluate the condition of the woman and the fetus. The nurse should also check for other signs and symptoms of supine hypotensive syndrome, such as nausea, sweating, and visual disturbances.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
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.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: Braxton Hicks contractions are irregular, painless uterine contractions that occur throughout pregnancy. They are a probable sign of pregnancy, not a positive sign.
Choice B reason: Fetal movement palpated by the nurse-midwife is a positive sign of pregnancy, as it confirms the presence of a living fetus in the uterus. It can be detected as early as 16 to 20 weeks of gestation.
Choice C reason: A positive pregnancy test is a probable sign of pregnancy, as it indicates the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the urine or blood. However, it is not a definitive sign, as other conditions can cause elevated hCG levels.
Choice D reason: Quickening is the first perception of fetal movement by the mother, which usually occurs between 16 and 20 weeks of gestation. It is a presumptive sign of pregnancy, not a positive sign.
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