A patient is 3 days post c-section delivery for eclampsia. The client is receiving hydralazine (Apresoline). Which of the following would indicate that the medication is effective?
The patient's blood pressure dropped from 160/120 to 130/90
The patient states that her headache is gone
The patient's postoperative weight has dropped from 155 to 144 pounds
The patient has had no seizures since delivery
The Correct Answer is A
A. The patient's blood pressure dropped from 160/120 to 130/90. Hydralazine is an antihypertensive medication used to lower blood pressure in conditions such as eclampsia. A reduction in blood pressure indicates that the medication is achieving its intended effect of controlling hypertension, reducing the risk of complications like stroke or organ damage.
B. The patient states that her headache is gone. While headaches are a symptom of severe hypertension, their resolution does not directly confirm the effectiveness of hydralazine. Other factors, such as pain relief or improved postpartum recovery, could contribute to headache relief.
C. The patient's postoperative weight has dropped from 155 to 144 pounds. Postpartum weight loss is expected due to fluid shifts and loss of pregnancy-related fluids, but it is not a direct measure of hydralazine’s effectiveness. The medication does not act as a diuretic or weight-loss agent.
D. The patient has had no seizures since delivery. While hydralazine helps lower blood pressure, preventing seizures in eclamptic patients is primarily managed with magnesium sulfate, not hydralazine. The absence of seizures is important but does not indicate the specific effectiveness of this antihypertensive medication.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Contraction frequency of 1 minute. Misoprostol (Cytotec) is used for cervical ripening, but excessive uterine contractions (tachysystole), defined as more than five contractions in 10 minutes, can lead to fetal distress and uterine rupture. If contractions are occurring every minute, this indicates hyperstimulation, requiring immediate discontinuation of the medication and possible intervention with tocolytics to relax the uterus.
B. Cervix is 50% effaced. Cervical effacement is a normal part of labor progression and does not indicate a need to stop Cytotec treatment. Misoprostol is intended to help soften and ripen the cervix, and 50% effacement suggests the cervix is responding appropriately.
C. Maternal respiratory rate of 24. A respiratory rate of 24 breaths per minute is within the upper normal range for pregnancy due to increased metabolic demands. It does not indicate an adverse reaction to misoprostol or warrant discontinuation of treatment.
D. Fetal heart baseline of 150. A fetal heart rate of 150 beats per minute is within the normal range of 110-160 bpm and does not indicate fetal distress. There is no reason to stop Cytotec based on this finding.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. The patient will deliver a baby that is appropriate for gestational age. While cerclage helps prevent preterm birth, it does not directly influence fetal growth or ensure that the baby will be appropriate for gestational age (AGA). Factors such as maternal nutrition, placental function, and genetics play a larger role in fetal growth.
B. The patient will have a normal blood glucose throughout the pregnancy. Cerclage is performed to prevent cervical insufficiency and preterm birth, not to regulate blood glucose. Maintaining normal blood sugar levels is important for pregnancy outcomes but is unrelated to this procedure.
C. The patient will deliver after 38 weeks' gestation. The primary goal of a cerclage is to prevent preterm birth by reinforcing the cervix and allowing the pregnancy to progress to term. Women with a history of second-trimester pregnancy losses or cervical insufficiency benefit from this procedure to increase the likelihood of delivering at or near term.
D. The patient will gain less than 25 pounds during the pregnancy. Weight gain recommendations are based on maternal BMI and nutritional status, not the need for a cerclage. The procedure does not directly affect maternal weight gain.
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