During augmentation of labor with intravenous oxytocin (Pitocin), a multiparous client becomes pale and diaphoretic and complains of severe lower abdominal pain with a tearing sensation. An abnormal FHR tracing is noted on the monitor. The nurse should suspect:

A. Stay with the patient and call for help. The priority during a seizure is to ensure the patient’s safety and call for immediate assistance. The nurse should stay with the patient, protect her from injury, and note the seizure’s duration and characteristics. After the seizure ends, further interventions can be implemented.

B. Suction the mouth to prevent aspiration. Suctioning should only be performed after the seizure ends. Attempting to suction during an active seizure increases the risk of injury and airway obstruction.

C. Insert an oral airway. Inserting an oral airway during an active seizure is unsafe and contraindicated because it may cause trauma to the mouth or airway. An airway can be inserted after the seizure stops if necessary.

D. Administer oxygen by tight face mask. While oxygen is important, it should be provided after the seizure subsides and the airway is assessed. The primary focus during the seizure is safety, preventing injury, and calling for emergency assistance.

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.