1 OBSTETRICAL ASSESSMENT

256. The nurse is reviewing the record of a client who has just been told that a pregnancy test is positive. The health care provider has documented the presence of Goodell's sign. This finding is most closely associated with which characteristic? 1. A softening of the cervix 2. The presence of fetal movement 3. The presence of human chorionic gonadotropin in the urine 4. A soft blowing sound that corresponds to the maternal pulse during auscultation of the uterus

1. A softening of the cervix At the beginning of the second month of gestation, the cervix becomes softer as a result of increased vascularity and hyperplasia, which cause Goodell's sign. Cervical softening is noted by the examiner during pelvic examination. Goodell's sign does not indicate the presence of fetal movement. Human chorionic gonadotropin noted in maternal urine is a probable sign of pregnancy. A soft blowing sound that corresponds to the maternal pulse may be auscultated over the uterus and is caused by blood circulating through the placenta

261. The nurse is collecting data during an admission assessment of a client who is pregnant with twins. The client has a healthy 5-year-old child who was delivered at 38 weeks and tells the nurse that she does not have a history of any type of abortion or fetal demise. Using GTPAL, what should the nurse document in the client's chart? 1. G = 3, T = 2, P = 0, A = 0, L = 1 2. G = 2, T = 1, P = 0, A = 0, L = 1 3. G = 1, T = 1, P = 1, A = 0, L = 1 4. G = 2, T = 0, P = 0, A = 0, L = 1

2. G = 2, T = 1, P = 0, A = 0, L = 1 Pregnancy outcomes can be described with the acronym GTPAL. G is gravidity, the number of pregnancies; T is term births, the number born at term (longer than 37 weeks); P is preterm births, the number born before 37 weeks' gestation; A is abortions or miscarriages, the number of abortions or miscarriages (included in gravida if before 20 weeks' gestation; included in parity [number of births] if past 20 weeks' gestation); and L is the number of current living children. A woman who is pregnant with twins and has a child has a gravida of 2. Because the child was delivered at 38 weeks, the number of term births is 1, and the number of preterm births is 0. The number of abortions is 0, and the number of living children is 1

257. A client arrives at the clinic for the first prenatal assessment. She tells the nurse that the first day of her last menstrual period was October 19, 2014. Using Nägele's rule, which expected date of delivery should the nurse document in the client's chart? 1. July 12, 2014 2. July 26, 2015 3. August 12, 2015 4. August 26, 2015

2. July 26, 2015 Accurate use of Nägele's rule requires that the woman have a regular 28-day menstrual cycle. Subtract 3 months and add 7 days to the first day of the last menstrual period, and then add 1 year to that date: first day of the last menstrual period, October 19, 2014; subtract 3 months, July 19, 2014; add 7 days, July 26, 2014; add 1 year, July 26, 2015.

260. The nurse is performing an assessment of a primigravida who is being evaluated in a clinic during her second trimester of pregnancy. Which finding concerns the nurse and indicates the need for follow-up? 1. Quickening 2. Braxton Hicks contractions 3. Fetal heart rate of 180 beats/ minute 4. Consistent increase in fundal height

3. Fetal heart rate of 180 beats/ minute The normal range of the fetal heart rate depends on gestational age. The heart rate is usually 160 to 170 beats/ minute in the first trimester and slows with fetal growth. Near and at term, the fetal heart rate ranges from 110 to 160 beats/ minute. Options 1, 2, and 4 are normal expected findings.

254. A pregnant client is seen for a regular prenatal visit and tells the nurse that she is experiencing irregular contractions. The nurse determines that she is experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions. On the basis of this finding, which nursing action is most appropriate? 1. Contact the health care provider. 2. Instruct the client to maintain bed rest for the remainder of the pregnancy. 3. Inform the client that these contractions are common and may occur throughout the pregnancy. 4. Call the maternity unit and inform them that the client will be admitted in a prelabor condition.

3. Inform the client that these contractions are common and may occur throughout the pregnancy. Braxton Hicks contractions are irregular, painless contractions that may occur intermittently throughout pregnancy. Because Braxton Hicks contractions may occur and are normal in some pregnant women during pregnancy, options 1, 2, and 4 are unnecessary and inappropriate actions.

259. A pregnant client asks the nurse in the clinic when she will be able to begin to feel the fetus move. The nurse responds by telling the mother that fetal movements will be noted between which weeks of gestation? 1. 6 and 8 2. 8 and 10 3. 10 and 12 4. 14 and 18

4. 14 and 18 Quickening is fetal movement that is felt by the mother. In the multiparous woman this may occur as early as the fourteenth to sixteenth weeks. The nulliparous woman may not notice these sensations until the eighteenth week or later. Options 1, 2, and 3 are incorrect time frames because quickening does not occur this early during pregnancy.

258. The health care provider (HCP) is assessing the client for the presence of ballottement. To make this determination, the HCP should take which action? 1. Auscultate for fetal heart sounds. 2. Assess the cervix for compressibility. 3. Palpate the abdomen for fetal movement. 4. Initiate a gentle upward tap on the cervix.

4. Initiate a gentle upward tap on the cervix. Ballottement is a technique of palpating a floating structure by bouncing it gently and feeling it rebound. In the technique used to palpate the fetus, the examiner places a finger in the vagina and taps gently upward, causing the fetus to rise. The fetus then sinks, and the examiner feels a gentle tap on the finger. Options 1, 2, and 3 are not assessment techniques to check for ballottement. Option 2 is related to Hegar's sign. Options 1 and 3 are a part of fetal assessment

252. The nurse is performing an assessment of a pregnant client who is at 28 weeks of gestation. The nurse measures the fundal height in centimeters and expects which finding? 1. 22 cm 2. 30 cm 3. 36 cm 4. 40 cm

2. 30 cm During the second and third trimesters (weeks 18 to 30), fundal height in centimeters approximately equals the fetus' age in weeks ± 2 cm. At 16 weeks, the fundus can be located halfway between the symphysis pubis and the umbilicus. At 20 to 22 weeks, the fundus is at the umbilicus. At 36 weeks, the fundus is at the xiphoid process.

253. The nurse is assisting in performing an assessment on a client who suspects that she is pregnant and is checking the client for probable signs of pregnancy. Which are probable signs of pregnancy? Select all that apply. 1. Ballottement * 2. Chadwick's sign * 3. Uterine enlargement * 4. Braxton Hicks contractions * 5. Fetal heart rate detected by a nonelectronic device 6. Outline of fetus via radiography or ultrasonography

1, 2, 3, 4 Rationale: The probable signs of pregnancy include uterine enlargement, Hegar's sign (compressibility and softening of the lower uterine segment that occurs at about week 6), Goodell's sign (softening of the cervix that occurs at the beginning of the second month), Chadwick's sign (violet coloration of the mucous membranes of the cervix, vagina, and vulva that occurs at about week 4), ballottement (rebounding of the fetus against the examiner's fingers on palpation), Braxton Hicks contractions, and a positive pregnancy test for the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin. Positive signs of pregnancy include fetal heart rate detected by electronic device (Doppler transducer) at 10 to 12 weeks and by nonelectronic device (fetoscope) at 20 weeks of gestation, active fetal movements palpable by the examiner, and an outline of the fetus by radiography or ultrasonography

255. The nurse is providing instructions to a pregnant client with genital herpes about the measures that are needed to protect the fetus. Which instruction should the nurse provide to the client? 1. Total abstinence from sexual intercourse is necessary during the entire pregnancy. 2. Sitz baths need to be taken every 4 hours while awake if vaginal lesions are present. 3. Daily administration of acyclovir (Zovirax) is necessary during the entire pregnancy. 4. A cesarean section will be necessary if vaginal lesions are present at the time of labor.

4. A cesarean section will be necessary if vaginal lesions are present at the time of labor. For women with active lesions, either recurrent or primary at the time of labor, delivery should be by cesarean section to prevent the fetus from being in contact with the genital herpes. The safety of acyclovir has not been established during pregnancy, and it should be used only when a life-threatening infection is present. Clients should be advised to abstain from sexual contact while the lesions are present. If this is an initial infection, clients should continue to abstain until they become culture-negative because prolonged viral shedding may occur in such cases. Keeping the genital area clean and dry promotes healing.