A nurse is caring for a client who is at 34 weeks of gestation. The client has a medical history of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia with previous pregnancy, and chronic hypertension for 5 years. The client's vital signs are: BP: 170/104 mm Hg, Pulse: 89/min, Respirations: 20/min, Temperature: 98.8°F (37.1°C) Oral, Oxygen saturation: 97% room air. The nurse is reviewing the client's medical record to develop a plan of care.
What are the two most important nursing interventions for this client?
Monitor the fetal heart rate and movement
Administer magnesium sulfate as prescribed
Encourage the client to drink plenty of fluids
Educate the client about the signs of preterm labor
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale
Monitoring the fetal heart rate and movement is an important nursing intervention for this client. The client is at risk of fetal distress due to the high blood pressure, the preeclampsia, and the gestational diabetes. The fetal heart rate and movement can indicate the fetal well-being and oxygenation. The nurse should monitor the fetal heart rate continuously and perform a nonstress test or a biophysical profile as indicated.
Choice B rationale
Administering magnesium sulfate as prescribed is an important nursing intervention for this client. The client is at risk of seizures due to the severe preeclampsia. Magnesium sulfate is a medication that prevents and treats seizures in preeclamptic clients. The nurse should administer magnesium sulfate as prescribed and monitor the client's vital signs, reflexes, urine output, and magnesium level.
Choice C rationale
Encouraging the client to drink plenty of fluids is not an important nursing intervention for this client. The client is at risk of fluid overload due to the high blood pressure and the preeclampsia. Fluid overload can cause pulmonary edema, heart failure, and cerebral edema in the client. The nurse should restrict the client's fluid intake and monitor the client's weight, edema, and lung sounds.
Choice D rationale
Educating the client about the signs of preterm labor is not an important nursing intervention for this client. The client is at 34 weeks of gestation, which is close to the term pregnancy. The client is more likely to have a planned delivery or an induction of labor due to the high-risk conditions. The nurse should educate the client about the signs of preeclampsia, such as headache, blurred vision, epigastric pain, and decreased urine output.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale
This is incorrect because a client who has missed a period and reports vaginal spotting is not the most urgent case. This could indicate a possible pregnancy or a menstrual irregularity, but it is not a life-threatening condition. The nurse should see this client after assessing the other clients.
Choice B rationale
This is correct because a client who is at 28 weeks of gestation and reports painless vaginal bleeding is the most urgent case. This could indicate a placenta previa, which is a condition where the placenta covers the cervical opening and can cause severe hemorrhage and fetal distress. The nurse should see this client immediately and prepare for an emergency cesarean section.
Choice C rationale
This is incorrect because a client who is at 38 weeks of gestation and reports a cough and fever is not the most urgent case. This could indicate a respiratory infection, which can affect the maternal and fetal well-being, but it is not a life-threatening condition. The nurse should see this client after assessing the other clients and administer antibiotics and antipyretics as prescribed.
Choice D rationale
This is incorrect because a client who is at 14 weeks of gestation and reports nausea and vomiting is not the most urgent case. This could indicate a normal pregnancy symptom or a hyperemesis gravidarum, which is a condition where the nausea and vomiting are severe and persistent. The nurse should see this client after assessing the other clients and provide hydration and antiemetics as prescribed.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
This is correct because hyperinsulinemia is the most likely cause of the respiratory distress in the newborn. Hyperinsulinemia is a condition where the newborn has high levels of insulin in the blood, due to the exposure to the mother's high blood glucose levels during pregnancy. Insulin causes the breakdown of glucose and the production of carbon dioxide, which increases the respiratory demand and leads to respiratory distress syndrome.
Choice B rationale
This is incorrect because increased deposits of fat in the chest and shoulder area are not the most likely cause of the respiratory distress in the newborn. Increased deposits of fat are a characteristic of macrosomia, which is a condition where the newborn has a birth weight of more than 4,000 g. Macrosomia can cause difficulty in delivery and increase the risk of birth injuries, but it does not directly affect the respiratory function of the newborn.
Choice C rationale
This is incorrect because brachial plexus injury is not the most likely cause of the respiratory distress in the newborn. Brachial plexus injury is a condition where the nerves that supply the arm and hand are damaged during delivery, due to excessive traction or compression. Brachial plexus injury can cause weakness, numbness, or paralysis of the affected arm, but it does not affect the respiratory function of the newborn.
Choice D rationale
This is incorrect because increased blood viscosity is not the most likely cause of the respiratory distress in the newborn. Increased blood viscosity is a condition where the blood is thicker and flows more slowly, due to the high concentration of red blood cells. Increased blood viscosity can increase the risk of thrombosis and polycythemia, but it does not directly affect the respiratory function of the newborn.
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