A nurse is preparing to administer atenolol 50 mg PO daily to a client. The amount available is atenolol 100 mg/tablet. How many tablets should the nurse administer per dose?

(Round the answer to the nearest tenth. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero)

Choice A reason: She is exhibiting hypertonic uterine dysfunction, because she has frequent and painful contractions that are ineffective in dilating the cervix. Hypertonic uterine dysfunction occurs when the uterus contracts too often and too forcefully, resulting in poor oxygenation and fetal distress. The woman may need tocolytic therapy, pain relief, and hydration.

Choice B reason: She is not experiencing a normal latent stage, because her contractions are too frequent and too painful for this phase of labor. The normal latent stage is characterized by irregular and mild contractions that gradually increase in frequency and intensity, and cervical dilation from 0 to 3 cm.

Choice C reason: She is not experiencing precipitous labor, because her labor is not progressing rapidly. Precipitous labor is defined as labor that lasts less than 3 hours from the onset of contractions to the delivery of the baby. It is associated with cervical dilation of more than 5 cm per hour.

Choice D reason: She is not exhibiting hypotonic uterine dysfunction, because her contractions are not weak or infrequent. Hypotonic uterine dysfunction occurs when the uterus contracts too weakly or too rarely, resulting in prolonged labor and increased risk of infection. The woman may need oxytocin augmentation, amniotomy, or cesarean section.

Choice A reason: To call for an immediate magnesium sulfate level is not the immediate action that the nurse should take, as it is a diagnostic test that requires a blood sample and a laboratory analysis, which can take time and delay the treatment. The nurse should first stop the infusion and notify the provider, as the client is showing signs of magnesium sulfate toxicity, which is a life-threatening condition that can cause respiratory depression, cardiac arrest, or coma.

Choice B reason: To prepare to administer hydralazine is not the immediate action that the nurse should take, as it is a pharmacological intervention that requires a prescription and an assessment of the blood pressure and the fetal status. Hydralazine is an antihypertensive drug that lowers the blood pressure and prevents the complications of severe preeclampsia, such as eclampsia, stroke, or organ damage. However, the client's blood pressure is not very high and is not the main problem at the moment.

Choice C reason: To discontinue the magnesium sulfate infusion is the immediate action that the nurse should take, as it is the first and most important intervention that can reverse the effects of magnesium sulfate and restore the neuromuscular function and the respiratory rate. Magnesium sulfate is a drug that prevents seizures and lowers the blood pressure in clients with severe preeclampsia, but it can also cause toxicity if the dose is too high or the infusion is too fast.

Choice D reason: To administer oxygen is not the immediate action that the nurse should take, as it is a supportive intervention that improves the oxygen delivery to the tissues and organs, but does not address the underlying cause of the respiratory depression, which is the magnesium sulfate toxicity. The nurse should administer oxygen only after stopping the infusion and assessing the oxygen saturation and the respiratory status.