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Complications and outcomes
Complications and outcomes ( 5 Questions)
A nurse is caring for a client who is in labor and has a prolapsed umbilical cord.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
Applying warm saline-soaked gauze to the exposed cord can prevent drying and atrophy of the cord, but it does not relieve cord compression.
This is because this position can reduce the pressure of the fetal presenting part on the prolapsed cord and improve fetal oxygenation.The nurse should also notify the provider and prepare for an emergency cesarean delivery, but this is not the first action to take.
Administering oxygen via face mask at 10 L/min can increase maternal oxygen saturation and fetal oxygen delivery, but it does not address the cause of cord prolapse.
Notifying the provider and preparing for an emergency cesarean delivery is a necessary action, but it is not the first priority.The nurse should first try to relieve cord compression by placing the client in a knee-chest position.
The correct answer is choice B. Place the client in a knee-chest position. This is because this position can reduce the pressure of the fetal presenting part on the prolapsed cord and improve fetal oxygenation. The nurse should also notify the provider and prepare for an emergency cesarean delivery, but this is not the first action to take.
Choice A is wrong because applying warm saline-soaked gauze to the exposed cord can prevent drying and atrophy of the cord, but it does not relieve cord compression.
Choice C is wrong because administering oxygen via face mask at 10 L/min can increase maternal oxygen saturation and fetal oxygen delivery, but it does not address the cause of cord prolapse.
Choice D is wrong because notifying the provider and preparing for an emergency cesarean delivery is a necessary action, but it is not the first priority. The nurse should first try to relieve cord compression by placing the client in a knee-chest position.