A nurse is attending to a client 2 hours after a spontaneous vaginal birth and the client has saturated two perineal pads with blood within a 30-minute period.
What should be the priority nursing intervention at this time?

Prepare to administer oxytocic medication.

Assist the client on a bedpan to urinate.

Palpate the client’s uterine fundus.

Increase the client’s fluid intake.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

Choice A rationale
Administering oxytocic medication is an intervention that may be necessary if the client’s bleeding does not stop or if the uterus does not contract adequately. However, the priority is to assess the situation, which includes palpating the uterine fundus.
Choice B rationale
Assisting the client on a bedpan to urinate can help if the bladder is full and preventing the uterus from contracting properly. However, the priority is to assess the uterus by palpating the uterine fundus.
Choice C rationale
Palpating the client’s uterine fundus is the priority nursing intervention. A boggy uterus (one that does not contract properly) is a common cause of postpartum hemorrhage. If the uterus is not firm upon palpation, massage it until it firms up.
Choice D rationale
Increasing the client’s fluid intake can help replace lost fluids, but it is not the priority intervention. The first step is to assess the cause of the bleeding, which includes palpating the uterine fundus.

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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Choice A rationale
Assisting with amnioinfusion is not the first priority. Amnioinfusion is a procedure where a sterile solution is introduced into the uterus to increase the volume of fluid around the fetus. It is typically used in cases of oligohydramnios (low amniotic fluid) or to dilute thick meconium in the amniotic fluid.
Choice B rationale
Inserting a scalp electrode is not the first priority. A scalp electrode is a device used to monitor the fetal heart rate more accurately. It is usually used when external monitoring does not provide a clear reading or when there is a need for continuous detailed monitoring.

Choice C rationale
Changing the woman’s position is the correct action. Late decelerations in the fetal heart rate can be a sign of uteroplacental insufficiency, a condition where the placenta cannot deliver adequate oxygen to the fetus. Changing the woman’s position can improve placental blood flow and potentially improve the oxygen supply to the fetus.
Choice D rationale
Notifying the health care provider is important but not the first priority. The nurse should first attempt interventions such as changing the woman’s position to improve the fetal heart rate.

A. Thrombophlebitis. B. Retained placental fragments. C. Puerperal infection. D. Uterine atony.

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Choice A rationale
Thrombophlebitis is a condition where a blood clot in a vein causes inflammation and pain. While it can occur postpartum, it is not directly related to the weight of the newborn.
Choice B rationale
Retained placental fragments can occur after childbirth and can lead to postpartum hemorrhage or infection. However, this complication is not directly related to the weight of the newborn.
Choice C rationale
Puerperal infection, also known as postpartum infection, can occur after childbirth. However, it is not directly related to the weight of the newborn.
Choice D rationale
Uterine atony, a condition where the uterus fails to contract after the delivery of the baby, is a common cause of postpartum hemorrhage. A larger newborn, such as one weighing 9 lb 6 oz, can overstretch the uterus, increasing the risk of uterine atony.

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A nurse is attending to a client 2 hours after a spontaneous vaginal birth and the client has saturated two perineal pads with blood within a 30-minute period. What should be the priority nursing intervention at this time?

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

While evaluating an external monitor tracing of a woman in active labor, the nurse observes that the FHR begins to decelerate late in the contraction, with the decelerations occurring after the peak of the contraction. What is the nurse’s first priority?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

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Correct Answer is D

Explanation

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A nurse is attending to a client 2 hours after a spontaneous vaginal birth and the client has saturated two perineal pads with blood within a 30-minute period.
What should be the priority nursing intervention at this time?