A nurse is caring for a client who is at 12 weeks of gestation and has hyperemesis gravidarum.

Exhibits

The nurse is assessing the client 24 hr later. How should the nurse interpret the findings?

For each finding click to specify whether the finding is unrelated to the diagnosis, a sign of potential improvement, or a sign of potential worsening condition.

A. Administer oxygen via face mask at 10 L/min: While oxygen administration may be necessary for a client experiencing excessive bleeding, the first action should be to assess the extent of blood loss. Administering oxygen is not the priority at this point.

B. Prepare the client to receive plasma expander: Plasma expanders, such as intravenous fluids, may be part of the treatment for postpartum hemorrhage, but the immediate priority is to assess the client's blood loss and determine the need for blood products. Fluid replacement alone may not address the underlying issue.

C. Collect hemoglobin and hematocrit levels: This is the correct first action. Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels provide crucial information about the extent of blood loss and the need for further interventions, such as blood transfusions. This information helps guide the overall management of the client.

D. Insert an indwelling urinary catheter: While assessing urinary output is important, it is not the first priority when a client is saturating perineal pads every 10 to 15 minutes. The immediate concern is to assess and manage the excessive bleeding, and obtaining hemoglobin and hematocrit levels is a crucial step in this process.

A. Three fetal movements perceived by the client in a 20-min testing period: Perceiving fetal movements during the testing period is a positive finding and indicative of fetal well-being.

B. An increase in fetal heart rate to 150/min above the baseline of 140/min lasting 10 seconds in response to fetal movement within a 40-min testing period: This is considered a reassuring result in an NST, showing an appropriate acceleration in the fetal heart rate in response to fetal movement, which is a normal and positive finding.

C. Irregular contractions of 10 to 20 seconds in duration that are not felt by the client

During a nonstress test (NST), the presence of uterine contractions can sometimes interfere with the interpretation of fetal heart rate (FHR) patterns. If contractions occur but are not felt by the client, it can affect the accuracy of the test. Therefore, irregular contractions that are not felt by the client may prompt the need for further evaluation or testing to ensure accurate assessment of fetal well-being.

D. No late decelerations in the fetal heart rate noted with three uterine contractions of 60 seconds in duration within a 10-min testing period: Absence of late decelerations during uterine contractions is also a reassuring finding, indicating that the baby is tolerating the stress of contractions well.