A nurse is caring for a school-age child who is 2 hr postoperative following cardiac catheterization.

The nurse observes blood on the child’s dressing.

Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

This is because at 12 weeks of gestation, the uterus is still low in the pelvis and the fetal heart tones are best audible through the fetal back, which is usually located just above the symphysis pubis. The fetal heart rate at this stage is normally between 120 and 180 beats per minute.
Choice B is wrong because measuring the fundal height is not necessary to determine the placement of the ultrasound stethoscope at 12 weeks of gestation. The fundal height is usually measured from 20 weeks of gestation onwards to assess fetal growth and estimate gestational age.
Choice C is wrong because placing the client in a side-lying position prior to assessing the fetal heart rate is not required at 12 weeks of gestation. This position may be helpful later in pregnancy to improve maternal blood flow and oxygen delivery to the fetus, especially if there are signs of fetal distress or hypoxia.
Choice D is wrong because performing Leopold maneuvers prior to auscultating the fetal heart rate is not appropriate at 12 weeks of gestation.
Leopold maneuvers are a series of four steps to palpate the abdomen and determine the fetal position, presentation, lie, and engagement. They are usually performed after 24 weeks of gestation when the fetus is large enough to be felt through the abdominal wall.

The correct answer is choice **D. Identify possible precipitating factors related to the infections**.

Choice D rationale:

As a charge nurse concerned about a recent increase in facility-acquired catheter infections, the first step should be to identify possible precipitating factors related to the infections. This involves conducting a thorough investigation to determine the root causes of the increased infection rates. By identifying the underlying factors, the nurse can then develop targeted interventions to address the specific issues and prevent further infections.

Choice A rationale:

While scheduling nursing staff training for infection control procedures is important, it should not be the first action taken. Before implementing training, it is crucial to identify the factors contributing to the increased infection rates to ensure that the training addresses the specific issues at hand.

Choice B rationale:

Meeting with providers to discuss measures to decrease the infections is a necessary step, but it should not be the first action. Providers need to be informed about the situation, but their input will be more valuable once the precipitating factors have been identified.

Choice C rationale:

Revising the current policy for catheter care may be necessary, but it should not be the first action. Policies should be based on evidence-based practices and tailored to address the specific issues identified through the investigation.