A nurse is assisting in the care of a child who is receiving IV cefuroxime when the child begins to have difficulty breathing. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

Choice A reason: The nurse should plan to ask the client to empty their bladder before performing Leopold maneuvers. The rationale behind this is to ensure that the client's bladder is empty to allow for better palpation of the uterus and fetal position. A full bladder can interfere with accurate assessment and may lead to incorrect findings during the examination.

Choice B reason:

The nurse should assist the client into a left-lateral position. This position is ideal for performing Leopold maneuvers because it helps to displace the uterus away from the vena cava, reducing the risk of supine hypotension syndrome. Moreover, the left-lateral position promotes optimal blood flow to the placenta, which is essential for the well-being of the fetus during the examination.

Choice C reason:

The nurse should apply an external fetal monitor to the client's abdomen after completing the Leopold maneuvers. The purpose of Leopold maneuvers is to determine the fetal position and presentation manually. Once this information is obtained, applying the external fetal monitor allows continuous monitoring of the fetal heart rate and uterine contractions to assess the baby's well-being and the progression of labor.

Choice D reason:

The nurse should not instruct the client to perform nipple stimulation when planning to assist with Leopold maneuvers. Nipple stimulation is a method to induce or augment labor, and it is not related to the process of assessing fetal position and presentation using Leopold maneuvers. It may lead to unnecessary contractions and confusion during the examination.

Choice A reason:

The nurse should not reinforce to the client that they should not breastfeed after delivery. Group B streptococcus (GBS) is not transmitted through breast milk. It is crucial for infants born to GBS-positive mothers to receive appropriate prophylaxis, but breastfeeding is not contraindicated.

Choice B reason:

The nurse should maintain contact precautions for the client. Group B streptococcus is a highly contagious bacterium, and taking precautions can help prevent its transmission to other patients and healthcare workers.

Choice C reason:

The nurse does not need to obtain a pharyngeal culture from the client. Group B streptococcus colonization typically occurs in the genital and gastrointestinal tracts, not in the pharynx. Therefore, a pharyngeal culture would not be relevant in this situation.

Choice D reason:

This is the correct action the nurse should take. The client tested positive for group B streptococcus, which puts the newborn at risk of infection during labor and delivery. The standard protocol is to administer intravenous antibiotic prophylaxis to the mother during labor to reduce the risk of transmission to the baby.