CHAPTER 21 Prenatal Period
196. A nonstress test is performed on a client who is pregnant, and the results of the test indicate nonreactive findings. The primary health care provider prescribes a contraction stress test, and the results are documented as negative. How should the nurse document this finding? 1. A normal test result 2. An abnormal test result 3. A high risk for fetal demise 4. The need for a cesarean section
Answer: 1 Rationale: Contraction stress test results may be interpreted as negative (normal), positive (abnormal), or equivocal. A negative test result indicates that no late decelerations occurred in the fetal heart rate, although the fetus was stressed by 3 contractions of at least 40 seconds' duration in a 10-minute period. Options 2, 3, and 4 are incorrect interpretations.
200. The nurse is performing an assessment on a client who suspects that she is pregnant and is checking the client for probable signs of pregnancy. The nurse should assess for which probable signs of pregnancy? Select all that apply. 1. Ballottement 2. Chadwick's sign 3. Uterine enlargement 4. Positive pregnancy test 5. Fetal heart rate detected by a nonelectronic device 6. Outline of fetus via radiography or ultrasonography
Answer: 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.
198. The nurse in a health care clinic is instructing a pregnant client how to perform "kick counts." Which statement by the client indicates a need for further instruction? 1. "I will record the number of movements or kicks." 2. "I need to lie flat on my back to perform the procedure." 3. "If I count fewer than 10 kicks in a 2-hour period, I should count the kicks again over the next 2 hours." 4. "I should place my hands on the largest part of my abdomen and concentrate on the fetal movements to count the kicks."
Answer: 2 Rationale: The client should sit or lie quietly on her side to perform kick counts. Lying flat on the back is not necessary to perform this procedure, can cause discomfort, and presents a risk of vena cava (supine hypotensive) syndrome. The client is instructed to place her hands on the largest part of the abdomen and concentrate on the fetal movements. The client records the number of movements felt during a specified time period. The client needs to notify the primary health care provider (PHCP) if she feels fewer than 10 kicks over two consecutive 2-hour intervals or as instructed by the PHCP.
202. A client arrives at the clinic for the first prenatal assessment. She tells the nurse that the first day of her last normal menstrual period was October 19, 2020. Using Näegele's rule, which expected date of delivery should the nurse document in the client's chart? 1. July 12, 2021 2. July 26, 2021 3. August 12, 2021 4. August 26, 2021
Answer: 2 Rationale: Accurate use of Näegele'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, 2020; subtract 3 months, July 19, 2020; add 7 days, July 26, 2020; add 1 year, July 26, 2021.
195. A pregnant client in the first trimester calls the nurse at a health care clinic and reports that she has noticed a thin, colorless vaginal drainage. The nurse should make which statement to the client? 1. "Come to the clinic immediately." 2. "The vaginal discharge may be bothersome, but is a normal occurrence." 3. "Report to the emergency department at the maternity center immediately." 4. "Use tampons if the discharge is bothersome, but be sure to change the tampons every 2 hours."
Answer: 2 Rationale: Leukorrhea begins during the first trimester. Many clients notice a thin, colorless, or yellow vaginal discharge throughout pregnancy. Some clients become distressed about this condition, but it does not require that the client report to the health care clinic or emergency department immediately. If vaginal discharge is profuse, the client may use panty liners, but she should not wear tampons because of the risk of infection. If the client uses panty liners, she should change them frequently.
203. 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
Answer: 2 Rationale: 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 of gestation; A is abortions or miscarriages, the number of abortions or miscarriages (included in gravida if before 20 weeks of gestation; included in parity [number of births] if past 20 weeks of 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.
197. A rubella titer result of a 1-day postpartum client is less than 1:8, and a rubella virus vaccine is prescribed to be administered before discharge. The nurse provides which information to the client about the vaccine? Select all that apply. 1. Breast-feeding needs to be stopped for 3 months. 2. Pregnancy needs to be avoided for 1 to 3 months. 3. The vaccine is administered by the subcutaneous route. 4. Exposure to immunosuppressed individuals needs to be avoided. 5. A hypersensitivity reaction can occur if the client has an allergy to eggs. 6. The area of the injection needs to be covered with a sterile gauze for 1 week.
Answer: 2, 3, 4, 5 Rationale: Rubella vaccine is administered to women who have not had rubella or women who are not serologically immune. The vaccine may be administered in the immediate postpartum period to prevent the possibility of contracting rubella in future pregnancies. The live attenuated rubella virus is not communicable in breast milk; breast-feeding does not need to be stopped. The client is counseled not to become pregnant for 1 to 3 months after immunization or as specified by the obstetrician because of a possible risk to a fetus from the live virus vaccine; the client must be using effective birth control at the time of the immunization. The client should avoid contact with immunosuppressed individuals because of their low immunity toward live viruses and because the virus is shed in the urine and other body fluids. The vaccine is administered by the subcutaneous route. A hypersensitivity reaction can occur if the client has an allergy to eggs because the vaccine is made from duck eggs. There is no useful or necessary reason for covering the area of the injection with a sterile gauze.
194. The nurse is providing instructions to a pregnant client who is scheduled for an amniocentesis. What instruction should the nurse provide? 1. Strict bed rest is required after the procedure. 2. Hospitalization is necessary for 24 hours after the procedure. 3. An informed consent needs to be signed before the procedure. 4. A fever is expected after the procedure because of the trauma to the abdomen.
Answer: 3 Rationale: Because amniocentesis is an invasive procedure, informed consent needs to be obtained before the procedure. After the procedure, the client is instructed to rest, but may resume light activity after the cramping subsides. The client is instructed to keep the puncture site clean and to report any complications, such as chills, fever, bleeding, leakage of fluid at the needle insertion site, decreased fetal movement, uterine contractions, or cramping. Amniocentesis is an outpatient procedure and may be done in the obstetrician's office or in a special prenatal testing unit. Hospitalization is not necessary after the procedure.
201. 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 appropriate? 1. Contact the primary 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 preterm labor condition.
Answer: 3 Rationale: 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, there is no reason to notify the primary health care provider. This client is not in preterm labor and, therefore, does not need to be placed on bed rest or be admitted to the hospital to be monitored.
199. 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 notes that the fundal height is 30 cm. How should the nurse interpret this finding? 1. The client is measuring large for gestational age. 2. The client is measuring small for gestational age. 3. The client is measuring normal for gestational age. 4. More evidence is needed to determine size for gestational age
Answer: 3 Rationale: During the second and third trimesters (weeks 18 to 30), fundal height in centimeters approximately equals the fetus's age in weeks ± 2 cm. Therefore, if the client is at 28 weeks' gestation, a fundal height of 30 cm would indicate that the client is measuring normal for gestational age. 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.