Which type of anesthesia, when used with a laboring client, results in a loss of sensation confined to the vagina and perineum?

The correct answer is calculated as follows:

Step 1: Identify the total amount of oxytocin in the IV bag. The bag contains 20 units of oxytocin in 1 liter (or 1000 mL) of lactated Ringer’s solution.

Step 2: Convert the oxytocin units to milliunits. 1 unit = 1000 milliunits, so 20 units = 20,000 milliunits.

Step 3: Calculate the concentration of the oxytocin solution in milliunits/mL. Divide the total amount of oxytocin in milliunits by the total volume of the solution in mL.

So, 20,000 milliunits ÷ 1000 mL = 20 milliunits/mL.

Step 4: Calculate the infusion rate in mL/hour. The prescription is for an infusion rate of 2 milliunits/min. Since the concentration of the solution is 20 milliunits/mL, we divide the prescribed rate by the concentration to get the rate in mL/min. So, 2 milliunits/min ÷ 20 milliunits/mL = 0.1 mL/min.

Step 5: Convert the infusion rate to mL/hour. Multiply the rate in mL/min by the number of minutes in an hour. So, 0.1 mL/min × 60 min/hour = 6 mL/hour. Therefore, the nurse should program the infusion pump to deliver 6 mL/hour.

Choice A rationale

In the context of a fetus weighing an estimated 8 pounds at 36-weeks gestation in a client with gestational diabetes, an amniocentesis would most likely be performed to assess the maturity of the fetal lungs. This is because babies of mothers with gestational diabetes are at risk for

respiratory distress syndrome if delivered early, and the baby’s size may indicate that early delivery could be beneficial.

Choice B rationale

While amniocentesis can be used to detect neural tube defects, these are usually diagnosed earlier in pregnancy. Furthermore, there is no specific link between gestational diabetes, fetal weight, and neural tube defects that would make this the primary reason for performing an amniocentesis in this scenario.

Choice C rationale

Amniocentesis can be used to detect chromosomal abnormalities. However, these are typically screened for earlier in pregnancy and would not be directly related to the mother’s gestational diabetes or the estimated fetal weight.

Choice D rationale

The gender of the fetus can be determined through amniocentesis, but it can also be determined more simply through ultrasound. Therefore, it is unlikely that an amniocentesis would be performed for this purpose, especially considering the mother’s gestational diabetes and the baby’s size.