A nurse is caring for a client with preeclampsia who is being treated with IV magnesium sulfate. The client’s respiratory rate is 10/min and deep-tendon reflexes are absent.
What action should the nurse take?
Prepare for an emergency cesarean birth
Position the client in Trendelenburg
Discontinue the medication infusion
Assess maternal blood glucose
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale
Preparing for an emergency cesarean birth may be necessary in some cases of preeclampsia, particularly if there are signs of fetal distress or if the condition is not responding to treatment. However, in this scenario, the client’s symptoms are indicative of magnesium toxicity, not worsening preeclampsia.
Choice B rationale
Positioning the client in Trendelenburg (with the head lower than the feet) is not typically used in the management of preeclampsia or magnesium toxicity.
Choice C rationale
Discontinuing the medication infusion is the correct action in this scenario. The client’s symptoms (respiratory rate of 10/min and absent deep-tendon reflexes) are indicative of magnesium toxicity, a potential complication of magnesium sulfate therapy. Magnesium sulfate is used in the management of preeclampsia to prevent seizures, but it can cause toxicity if the levels become too high. If signs of toxicity occur, the infusion should be discontinued immediately.
Choice D rationale
Assessing maternal blood glucose may be necessary in some cases, particularly if the client has a history of diabetes. However, it is not the priority in this scenario, as the client’s symptoms are indicative of magnesium toxicity, not hyperglycemia.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
The correct answer is choiced. Slightly above the umbilicus.
Choice A rationale:
At 22 weeks of gestation, the fundus is not typically 5 cm above the umbilicus. This measurement would be more consistent with a later stage of pregnancy, around 28 weeks.
Choice B rationale:
The fundus being slightly below the umbilicus is more consistent with an earlier stage of pregnancy, around 20 weeks. At 22 weeks, the fundus should be higher.
Choice C rationale:
The fundus being 3 cm below the umbilicus is also indicative of an earlier stage of pregnancy, not 22 weeks. This would be expected around 18-20 weeks.
Choice D rationale:
At 22 weeks of gestation, the fundus is typically located slightly above the umbilicus.This corresponds with the general rule that the fundal height in centimeters should match the number of weeks of pregnancy, give or take 2 cm.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale
The patient’s anti-A and anti-B antibodies crossing the placenta and causing the destruction of the fetal red blood cells is related to ABO incompatibility, not Rh incompatibility.
Choice B rationale
If the patient’s blood contains the Rh factor and the newborn’s does not, Rh incompatibility would not occur. Rh incompatibility happens when the mother’s blood does not contain the Rh factor (Rh-negative), but the baby’s blood does contain the Rh factor (Rh-positive).
Choice C rationale
The patient’s blood does not contain the Rh factor, so she produces anti-Rh antibodies that cross the placental barrier and cause hemolysis of red blood cells in newborns. This is the correct reason for hyperbilirubinemia occurring with Rh incompatibility.
Choice D rationale
The patient’s blood containing anti-Rh antibodies that attack the newborn’s red blood cells is a result of Rh incompatibility, but it does not explain why hyperbilirubinemia occurs.
Hyperbilirubinemia occurs due to the breakdown of the extra red blood cells, leading to an increase in bilirubin levels.
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