A nurse is performing a nonstress test on a client who is at 35 weeks of gestation and has diabetes mellitus. The test reveals no accelerations of fetal heart rate for 20 min. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Choice A rationale:

The nurse should not tell the client that she cannot have an amniocentesis until she is at least 35 years of age. Age is not the primary factor for determining the eligibility for an amniocentesis. Amniocentesis is typically performed when there is a medical indication, such as advanced maternal age, abnormal prenatal screening, or a family history of genetic disorders.

Choice B rationale:

The nurse should not schedule the amniocentesis for later today without further clarification from the provider. Scheduling medical procedures without the provider's approval is not within the nurse's scope of practice and could lead to potential risks.

Choice C rationale:

This is the correct answer. The nurse should explain to the client that amniocentesis is a procedure used to determine if the baby has genetic or congenital disorders. It involves the extraction of a small amount of amniotic fluid to analyze the fetal cells for genetic abnormalities.

Choice D rationale:

The nurse should not tell the client that her provider will schedule a chorionic villus sampling (CVS) to determine the sex of the baby. CVS is another prenatal diagnostic test, but its primary purpose is to detect genetic disorders early in pregnancy, not to determine the baby's sex.

Choice A rationale:

Instructing the client to maintain scheduled mealtimes is essential for a postpartum client with type 1 diabetes mellitus who is breastfeeding. Consistent and balanced meals help stabilize blood glucose levels, especially in diabetic clients who need to manage their insulin.

Choice B rationale:

Checking blood glucose levels every 8 hours is not appropriate for a postpartum client with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Diabetic clients typically need to monitor their blood glucose more frequently, especially after meals and during breastfeeding.

Choice C rationale:

Instructing the client to take more insulin with each meal than she did prior to pregnancy is not accurate advice. The insulin requirements may change during pregnancy, but it is essential to follow the healthcare provider's guidance on adjusting insulin doses after delivery.

Choice D rationale:

Limiting carbohydrate intake to 30 grams per day is not suitable for a breastfeeding postpartum client with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Carbohydrates are a crucial source of energy, and breastfeeding mothers usually require more carbohydrates to support lactation and energy needs. Restricting carbohydrates to such a low level could be harmful.