A nurse is providing care to a woman who is at 36 weeks of gestation and in preterm labor with ruptured membranes.The nurse determines that the client's oral temperature is 39.0 C (102.2 F). Besides notifying the provider, which of the following is an appropriate nursing action?

Choice A rationale

Assessing the client's blood pressure can help determine if there is a significant loss of blood and consequent hypotension. However, it is not the immediate first action to manage heavy bleeding postpartum.

Choice B rationale

Assessing the bladder for distention is crucial as a full bladder can interfere with uterine contraction, potentially leading to increased bleeding. But, it isn't the first priority compared to addressing the immediate bleeding.

Choice C rationale

Massaging the client's fundus is the priority action in this case. It helps to contract the uterus, thereby reducing bleeding. Uterine atony is the most common cause of postpartum hemorrhage, and fundal massage is the first intervention to manage it.

Choice D rationale

Preparing to administer a prescription may be necessary, especially if uterotonics are required. However, this is a subsequent step after attempting to control the bleeding through fundal massage.

Choice A rationale

Placenta formation begins shortly after implantation, but it continues to develop throughout the first trimester and into the early second trimester, making it less precise to attribute the first 8 weeks solely to this process.

Choice B rationale

Fertilization occurs within the first week after ovulation, marking the beginning of pregnancy, but it is a singular event that happens prior to the developmental processes vulnerable to teratogens.

Choice C rationale

Organogenesis is the critical period during which the major organs and structures of the fetus form, typically occurring between the third and eighth weeks of gestation. This is the time when the fetus is most susceptible to the effects of teratogens, which can cause congenital anomalies.

Choice D rationale

Implantation occurs approximately 6-10 days after fertilization, embedding the blastocyst into the uterine lining. While crucial, it is not the primary period when teratogenic effects are most significant, as this happens during organogenesis.