Intrapartum NCLEX questions

A nurse is caring for a client in labor who is receiving Pitocin by IV infusion to stimulate uterine contractions. Which assessment finding would indicate to the nurse that the infusion needs to be discontinued? 1.Three contractions occurring within a 10-minute period 2.A fetal heart rate of 90 beats per minute 3.Adequate resting tone of the uterus palpated between contractions 4.Increased urinary output

2. A normal fetal heart rate is 120-160 BPM. Bradycardia or late or variable decelerations indicate fetal distress and the need to discontinue to pitocin. The goal of labor augmentation is to achieve three good-quality contractions in a 10-minute period.

An ultrasound is performed on a client at term gestation that is experiencing moderate vaginal bleeding. The results of the ultrasound indicate that an abruptio placenta is present. Based on these findings, the nurse would prepare the client for: 1.Complete bed rest for the remainder of the pregnancy 2.Delivery of the fetus 3.Strict monitoring of intake and output 4.The need for weekly monitoring of coagulation studies until the time of delivery

2. The goal of management in abruptio placentae is to control the hemorrhage and deliver the fetus as soon as possible. Delivery is the treatment of choice if the fetus is at term gestation or if the bleeding is moderate to severe and the mother or fetus is in jeopardy.

During the period of induction of labor, a client should be observed carefully for signs of: 1.Severe pain 2.Uterine tetany 3.Hypoglycemia 4.Umbilical cord prolapse

2. Uterine tetany could result from the use of oxytocin to induce labor. Because oxytocin promotes powerful uterine contractions, uterine tetany may occur. The oxytocin infusion must be stopped to prevent uterine rupture and fetal compromise.

A nurse is monitoring a client in active labor and notes that the client is having contractions every 3 minutes that last 45 seconds. The nurse notes that the fetal heart rate between contractions is 100 BPM. Which of the following nursing actions is most appropriate? 1.Encourage the client's coach to continue to encourage breathing exercises 2.Encourage the client to continue pushing with each contraction 3.Continue monitoring the fetal heart rate 4.Notify the physician or nurse mid-wife

4. A normal fetal heart rate is 120-160 beats per minute. Fetal bradycardia between contractions may indicate the need for immediate medical management, and the physician or nurse mid-wife needs to be notified.

A nurse is monitoring a client in labor who is receiving Pitocin and notes that the client is experiencing hypertonic uterine contractions. List in order of priority the actions that the nurse takes. 1.Stop of Pitocin infusion 2.Perform a vaginal examination 3.Reposition the client 4.Check the client's blood pressure and heart rate 5.Administer oxygen by face mask at 8 to 10 L/min

1, 4, 2. 5, 3. If uterine hypertonicity occurs, the nurse immediately would intervene to reduce uterine activity and increase fetal oxygenation. The nurse would stop the Pitocin infusion and increase the rate of the nonadditive solution, check maternal BP for hyper or hypotension, position the woman in a side-lying position, and administer oxygen by snug face mask at 8-10 L/min. The nurse then would attempt to determine the cause of the uterine hypertonicity and perform a vaginal exam to check for prolapsed cord

A maternity nurse is caring for a client with abruptio placenta and is monitoring the client for disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. Which assessment finding is least likely to be associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation? 1.Swelling of the calf in one leg 2.Prolonged clotting times 3.Decreased platelet count 4.Petechiae, oozing from injection sites, and hematuria

1. DIC is a state of diffuse clotting in which clotting factors are consumed, leading to widespread bleeding. Platelets are decreased because they are consumed by the process; coagulation studies show no clot formation (and are thus normal to prolonged); and fibrin plugs may clog the microvasculature diffusely, rather than in an isolated area. The presence of petechiae, oozing from injection sites, and hematuria are signs associated with DIC. Swelling and pain in the calf of one leg are more likely to be associated with thrombophebitis.

A nurse is beginning to care for a client in labor. The physician has prescribed an IV infusion of Pitocin. The nurse ensures that which of the following is implemented before initiating the infusion? 1.Placing the client on complete bed rest 2.Continuous electronic fetal monitoring 3.An IV infusion of antibiotics 4.Placing a code cart at the client's bedside

2. Continuous electronic fetal monitoring should be implemented during an IV infusion of Pitocin.

A nurse in a labor room is assisting with the vaginal delivery of a newborn infant. The nurse would monitor the client closely for the risk of uterine rupture if which of the following occurred? 1.Hypotonic contractions 2.Forceps delivery 3.Schultz delivery 4.Weak bearing down efforts

2. Excessive fundal pressure, forceps delivery, violent bearing down efforts, tumultuous labor, and shoulder dystocia can place a woman at risk for traumatic uterine rupture. Hypotonic contractions and weak bearing down efforts do not alone add to the risk of rupture because they do not add to the stress on the uterine wall.

A nurse in the labor room is preparing to care for a client with hypertonic uterine dysfunction. The nurse is told that the client is experiencing uncoordinated contractions that are erratic in their frequency, duration, and intensity. The priority nursing intervention would be to: 1.Monitor the Pitocin infusion closely 2.Provide pain relief measures 3.Prepare the client for an amniotomy 4.Promote ambulation every 30 minutes

2. Management of hypertonic labor depends on the cause. Relief of pain is the primary intervention to promote a normal labor pattern.

A nurse is assessing a pregnant client in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy who was admitted to the maternity unit with a suspected diagnosis of abruptio placentae. Which of the following assessment findings would the nurse expect to note if this condition is present? 1.Absence of abdominal pain 2.A soft abdomen 3.Uterine tenderness/pain 4.Painless, bright red vaginal bleeding

3. In abruptio placentae, acute abdominal pain is present. Uterine tenderness and pain accompanies placental abruption, especially with a central abruption and trapped blood behind the placenta. The abdomen will feel hard and boardlike on palpation as the blood penetrates the myometrium and causes uterine irritability. Observation of the fetal monitoring often reveals increased uterine resting tone, caused by failure of the uterus to relax in attempt to constrict blood vessels and control bleeding.

A maternity nurse is preparing for the admission of a client in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy that is experiencing vaginal bleeding and has a suspected diagnosis of placenta previa. The nurse reviews the physician's orders and would question which order? 1.Prepare the client for an ultrasound 2.Obtain equipment for external electronic fetal heart monitoring 3.Obtain equipment for a manual pelvic examination 4.Prepare to draw a Hgb and Hct blood sample

3. Manual pelvic examinations are contraindicated when vaginal bleeding is apparent in the 3rd trimester until a diagnosis is made and placental previa is ruled out. Digital examination of the cervix can lead to maternal and fetal hemorrhage. A diagnosis of placenta previa is made by ultrasound. The H/H levels are monitored, and external electronic fetal heart rate monitoring is initiated. External fetal monitoring is crucial in evaluating the fetus that is at risk for severe hypoxia

A nurse is developing a plan of care for a client experiencing dystocia and includes several nursing interventions in the plan of care. The nurse prioritizes the plan of care and selects which of the following nursing interventions as the highest priority? 1.Keeping the significant other informed of the progress of the labor 2.Providing comfort measures 3.Monitoring fetal heart rate 4.Changing the client's position frequently

3. The priority is to monitor the fetal heart rate.

A nurse is assigned to care for a client with hypotonic uterine dysfunction and signs of a slowing labor. The nurse is reviewing the physician's orders and would expect to note which of the following prescribed treatments for this condition? 1.Medication that will provide sedation 2.Increased hydration 3.Oxytocin (Pitocin) infusion 4.Administration of a tocolytic medication

3. Therapeutic management for hypotonic uterine dysfunction includes oxytocin augmentation and amniotomy to stimulate a labor that slows.

A nurse in the labor room is performing a vaginal assessment on a pregnant client in labor. The nurse notes the presence of the umbilical cord protruding from the vagina. Which of the following would be the initial nursing action? 1.Place the client in Trendelenburg's position 2.Call the delivery room to notify the staff that the client will be transported immediately 3.Gently push the cord into the vagina 4.Find the closest telephone and stat page the physician

1. When cord prolapse occurs, prompt actions are taken to relieve cord compression and increase fetal oxygenation. The mother should be positioned with the hips higher than the head to shift the fetal presenting part toward the diaphragm. The nurse should push the call light to summon help, and other staff members should call the physician and notify the delivery room. No attempt should be made to replace the cord. The examiner, however, may place a gloved hand into the vagina and hold the presenting part off of the umbilical cord. Oxygen at 8 to 10 L/min by face mask is delivered to the mother to increase fetal oxygenation.