A charge nurse is teaching a newly licensed nurse about substance use disorders during pregnancy.
Which of the following statements by the newly licensed nurse indicates an understanding of the teaching?

The nurse should first monitor the client’s fundal tone followed by the client’s heart rate.

Rationale for correct answers
Fundal tone is the primary indicator of uterine contractility. A boggy fundus that does not firm with massage indicates uterine atony, the most common cause of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). Effective uterine contraction compresses uterine blood vessels to reduce bleeding. Monitoring fundal tone allows early identification of hemorrhage risk. Heart rate is a sensitive early sign of hypovolemia; a rising heart rate (tachycardia above 100 beats/min) reflects compensatory response to blood loss before blood pressure drops. Normal adult heart rate ranges from 60 to 100 beats/min; an increase indicates circulatory stress.

Rationale for incorrect answers
Bruising to perineal area (A) is important but secondary; it does not directly assess bleeding severity or uterine status. Pain level (C) is subjective and can be influenced by many factors; it does not reliably indicate hemorrhage. Uterine height (D) measures fundal location but does not assess firmness or tone, which are critical for detecting atony. Temperature (B) changes are not immediate indicators of bleeding. Pain level (C) and uterine height (D) similarly lack specificity for hemorrhage assessment compared to fundal tone and heart rate.

Take home points

• Fundal tone assessment is critical for early detection of uterine atony causing postpartum hemorrhage.
• Tachycardia is an early physiological sign of hypovolemia and should be closely monitored.
• Perineal bruising and pain are secondary findings and less specific to hemorrhage severity.
• Uterine height and temperature changes do not reliably indicate acute hemorrhage status.

The nurse should identify that weeks of gestation and contraction pattern are findings that require follow-up.

Rationale for correct answers:
Weeks of gestation at 32 weeks indicate a preterm pregnancy (<37 weeks), making any contractions concerning for possible preterm labor. The contraction pattern of increasing frequency (from every 5 minutes to every 3 minutes), longer duration (30 to 60 seconds), and moderate intensity signifies active uterine activity that can precipitate cervical changes and preterm birth risk. These two parameters warrant close monitoring and intervention to prevent premature delivery.

Rationale for incorrect answers (Response 1 options):
Blood pressure is within normal limits (128/83 and 117/80 mm Hg), so hypertensive disorders like preeclampsia are not indicated here. Pain score remains low (2/10), which is mild and not a primary indicator for urgent intervention. Parity (G1P0) does not influence immediate risk assessment for this clinical presentation.

Rationale for incorrect answers (Response 2 options):
Fetal heart rate remains normal at 140/min with no decelerations, indicating fetal well-being at this time. Nitrazine test is negative, showing intact membranes, which reduces the risk of premature rupture of membranes. Temperature is normal at 37°C, ruling out infection as a cause of contractions. Therefore, these findings do not require urgent follow-up in this scenario.