A nurse is caring for a client who is at 28 weeks of gestation and has a blood pressure of 160/100 mm Hg.
The nurse should anticipate a prescription for which of the following medications?
Hydralazine
Nifedipine
Labetalol
Methyldopa
The Correct Answer is C
Labetalol is an antihypertensive drug that can lower blood pressure in pregnant women with preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a condition that causes high blood pressure and proteinuria after 20 weeks of gestation.
Choice A is wrong because hydralazine is not recommended as a first-line treatment for preeclampsia due to its potential adverse effects on maternal and fetal outcomes.
Choice B is wrong because nifedipine is not licensed for use in pregnancy and may interact with magnesium sulfate, which is an anticonvulsant medication used to prevent or treat seizures in severe preeclampsia.
Choice D is wrong because methyldopa is not effective for acute blood pressure control and may cause adverse effects such as depression, sedation, and hemolytic anemia.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Magnesium sulfate therapy is used to prevent seizures in women with preeclampsia, a complication of pregnancy characterized by high blood pressure and organ dysfunction.Seizures are a sign of eclampsia, a severe form of preeclampsia that can be life-threatening.
Therefore, if the therapy is successful, the woman should not have any seizures.
Choice B.Absence of proteinuria is wrong because proteinuria, or excess protein in urine, is a possible sign of preeclampsia, not eclampsia.
Proteinuria may not disappear even after magnesium sulfate therapy.
Choice C.Absence of edema is wrong because edema, or swelling, is a common symptom of pregnancy and may not be related to preeclampsia or eclampsia.
Edema may not disappear even after magnesium sulfate therapy.
Choice D.Absence of headache is wrong because headache is a symptom of preeclampsia, not eclampsia.
Headache may not disappear even after magnesium sulfate therapy.
Normal ranges for blood pressure are below 140/90 mm Hg and for protein in urine are below 300 mg per 24 hours.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
“I should take a baby aspirin every day as prescribed.” Taking a baby aspirin daily has been shown to reduce the risk of developing preeclampsia by about 15%.If you have risk factors for preeclampsia, your healthcare provider may recommend starting aspirin in early pregnancy (by 12 weeks gestation).
Choice A is wrong because avoiding foods that are high in sodium does not prevent preeclampsia.Sodium intake does not affect blood pressure in pregnancy.
Choice B is wrong because lying on your left side for at least 2 hours a day does not prevent preeclampsia.However, lying on your left side may help improve blood flow to your placenta and your baby.
Choice C is wrong because checking your blood pressure at home every day does not prevent preeclampsia.However, monitoring your blood pressure at home may help detect signs of preeclampsia early and alert you to seek medical attention if needed.
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