A new mom delivered her baby 2 months ago.
The baby's father calls into the office to report that his wife is angry.
She is confused and having conversations with herself.
What is the appropriate response that the nurse should make?
Please take your wife to the nearest emergency room for evaluation.
Please bring your wife to the office for medication.
Your wife needs outpatient care.
Your wife needs behavioral therapy.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale:
Advising the caller to take his wife to the nearest emergency room for evaluation is the appropriate response. The new mom's symptoms, including confusion and auditory hallucinations (conversations with herself), are indicative of a serious mental health condition. These symptoms could be caused by postpartum psychosis, a rare but severe form of postpartum depression. Postpartum psychosis requires immediate medical attention and hospitalization for the safety of both the mother and the baby. It is essential to rule out any potential medical causes and provide appropriate psychiatric evaluation and treatment in an emergency setting.
Choice B rationale:
Bringing the wife to the office for medication is not appropriate in this situation. The symptoms described by the baby's father are severe and require urgent evaluation in an emergency room. Medication management should only be initiated after a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, which can be conducted in an emergency room setting.
Choice C rationale:
Suggesting outpatient care is not appropriate in this case. The severity of the symptoms, including confusion and hallucinations, indicates the need for immediate evaluation in an emergency setting. Outpatient care is not sufficient for addressing acute psychiatric emergencies.
Choice D rationale:
Recommending behavioral therapy is not appropriate for a situation involving acute confusion and hallucinations. Behavioral therapy is a valuable treatment for various mental health conditions, but it is not the appropriate intervention for acute symptoms like those described in this scenario.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Telling the patient that she should have felt the baby move by now might cause unnecessary anxiety if she hasn't experienced fetal movement yet. Fetal movement can vary, and some women might not feel it until later in their pregnancy. This statement does not provide accurate and reassuring information.
Choice B rationale:
Around 14 to 25 weeks of gestation, most women begin to feel fluttering sensations, which are the early movements of the baby. By stating that the patient should start feeling these sensations within the next month or so, the nurse provides an accurate and reassuring response based on the typical timeline for fetal movement.
Choice C rationale:
This statement is incorrect. While the baby is moving, it might not be perceivable to the mother due to various factors such as the position of the placenta or the baby's own activity patterns. Simply stating that the baby is moving does not address the patient's concern about feeling the movements.
Choice D rationale:
Some babies are indeed quiet, and their movements might not be as noticeable to the mother. However, this statement does not provide a specific timeframe or address the patient's immediate concern about when she will start feeling the baby move. It is essential to provide a more informative and reassuring response.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Magnesium sulfate is not given to improve patellar reflexes and increase respiratory efficiency (Choice A). It is primarily used to prevent and treat seizures (convulsions) in patients with preeclampsia and eclampsia.
Choice B rationale:
Magnesium sulfate does not shorten the duration of labor (Choice B). Its use is not related to the progression of labor but rather to prevent and control seizures in the context of preeclampsia and eclampsia.
Choice C rationale:
Preventing and treating convulsions (Choice C) is the main indication for administering magnesium sulfate in cases of severe preeclampsia and eclampsia. Magnesium sulfate acts as a central nervous system depressant, reducing the risk of seizures in these patients.
Choice D rationale:
Preventing a boggy uterus and lessening lochial flow (Choice D) are unrelated to the use of magnesium sulfate. These concerns are typically managed through uterine massage and other postpartum care measures, not magnesium sulfate administration.
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