Which of the following medications should the nurse plan to administer and document in the client's medical record for a client who is experiencing severe pain during active labor?
Fentanyl citrate
Naloxone hydrochloride
Naproxen
Hydrocodone
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A reason: Fentanyl citrate is appropriate for severe labor pain, as it provides rapid-onset analgesia via IV administration, crossing the blood-brain barrier to block pain signals. Its short half-life minimizes fetal respiratory depression, making it safe for labor. Fentanyl targets opioid receptors, offering effective pain relief, per obstetric analgesia protocols.
Choice B reason: Naloxone hydrochloride is an opioid antagonist used to reverse opioid overdose, not to manage labor pain. It blocks opioid receptors, reversing analgesia, which would exacerbate pain. In labor, naloxone is reserved for neonatal respiratory depression from maternal opioids, not maternal pain relief, per pharmacological principles.
Choice C reason: Naproxen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, is unsuitable for labor pain, as it primarily reduces inflammation and mild pain via prostaglandin inhibition. Labor pain requires rapid, potent analgesia like fentanyl. Naproxen’s slow onset and limited efficacy for visceral pain make it inappropriate for active labor, per pain management guidelines.
Choice D reason: Hydrocodone, an oral opioid, is not used in active labor due to its slow onset and prolonged duration, risking fetal respiratory depression. IV fentanyl provides faster, controlled analgesia suitable for labor’s acute pain. Hydrocodone’s pharmacokinetics are better suited for postpartum or chronic pain, not intrapartum use.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: Critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) screening uses pulse oximetry, not a heel blood sample. Blood sampling is for metabolic screening, not heart defects. Pulse oximetry measures oxygen saturation non-invasively, detecting shunting or cyanotic defects, aligning with CCHD screening’s focus on circulatory assessment.
Choice B reason: CCHD screening is typically performed at 24-48 hours of age, not 6-12 hours, to ensure stable postnatal circulation. Early testing may yield false positives due to transitional physiology. Pulse oximetry at the correct timing accurately detects critical heart defects, per neonatal screening protocols.
Choice C reason: CCHD screening compares oxygen saturation in the upper (right hand) and lower (foot) extremities using pulse oximetry to detect congenital heart defects causing differential cyanosis. A significant difference indicates potential shunting or ductal-dependent lesions, requiring further evaluation, aligning with the physiological basis of CCHD screening.
Choice D reason: CCHD screening results are immediate via pulse oximetry, not delayed 1-2 weeks. Real-time oxygen saturation readings identify potential heart defects, enabling prompt referral for echocardiography. Delayed results apply to metabolic screening, not CCHD, which relies on instant physiological data, per neonatal diagnostic protocols.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A reason: A WBC count of 11,000/mm3 is slightly elevated but normal in pregnancy due to physiological leukocytosis from increased immune activity. This supports maternal and fetal protection against infections. It does not indicate pathology requiring reporting, as it aligns with expected gestational changes in immune function, per hematological norms.
Choice B reason: Hematocrit of 37% is within the normal pregnancy range (37-47%), reflecting hemodilution from increased plasma volume. This ensures adequate placental perfusion and oxygen delivery. It does not indicate anemia or other complications requiring reporting, as it aligns with physiological adaptations in pregnancy, per hematological reference ranges.
Choice C reason: Creatinine of 0.9 mg/dL is normal (0.5-1 mg/dL) in pregnancy, reflecting increased glomerular filtration rate due to higher renal blood flow. This supports waste clearance for maternal and fetal health. It does not indicate renal dysfunction or require reporting, as it aligns with expected gestational renal physiology.
Choice D reason: Fasting blood glucose of 180 mg/dL indicates gestational diabetes, as it exceeds the normal range (74-106 mg/dL). Elevated glucose crosses the placenta, risking fetal macrosomia, hypoglycemia, or congenital anomalies. This requires immediate reporting for management to prevent adverse perinatal outcomes, per endocrinological and obstetric guidelines.
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