A nurse is attending to a client in labor who is showing late decelerations on the electronic fetal monitor.
What should be the nurse’s initial course of action?
Insert an IV catheter.
Assist the client into the left-lateral position.
Apply a fetal scalp electrode.
Perform a vaginal exam.
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A rationale
While inserting an IV catheter can be a part of the overall management plan for a client showing late decelerations on the electronic fetal monitor, it is not the initial course of action. The primary concern with late decelerations is that they may indicate fetal hypoxia, and the first response should be aimed at improving fetal oxygenation.
Choice B rationale
Assisting the client into the left-lateral position is the correct initial response when late decelerations are observed on the electronic fetal monitor. This position helps to maximize blood flow to the uterus and placenta, thereby improving oxygen delivery to the fetus.
Choice C rationale
Applying a fetal scalp electrode may be useful for obtaining a more accurate fetal heart rate tracing, but it is not the initial response to late decelerations. The priority is to address the potential fetal hypoxia that late decelerations may indicate.
Choice D rationale
Performing a vaginal exam would not be the initial response to late decelerations. While a vaginal exam can provide valuable information about the progress of labor, it does not address the issue of potential fetal hypoxia indicated by late decelerations.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
A newborn’s heart rate normally varies between 120 and 160 beats per minute, but it can rise to 180 beats per minute when the infant is crying or drop as low as 80 to 90 beats per minute when in deep sleep. Therefore, an apical heart rate of 130/min is within the normal range for a newborn.
Choice B rationale
There is no need to call the provider for further assessment if the newborn’s heart rate is within the normal range.
Choice C rationale
Preparing the newborn for transport to the NICU is not necessary if the heart rate is within the normal range.
Choice D rationale
Asking another nurse to verify the heart rate is not necessary if the heart rate is within the normal range.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Performing nasopharyngeal suctioning for a maximum of 5 seconds is not a recommended action for an infant diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot. This procedure is typically used to clear the airway in infants with respiratory distress, not heart conditions.
Choice B rationale
Positioning the infant in a knee-chest position can help increase blood flow to the lungs, which is beneficial for an infant with Tetralogy of Fallot. This condition involves a combination of heart defects that affect the normal flow of blood through the heart.
Choice C rationale
Administering morphine via IV bolus is not a recommended action for an infant diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot. While morphine is a powerful pain reliever, it is not typically used in the management of this condition.
Choice D rationale
Providing 100% oxygen by face mask is not a recommended action for an infant diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot. While supplemental oxygen can help increase the amount of oxygen in the blood, it does not address the underlying heart defects associated with this condition.
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