Exam 4 combine (CH 26-29,32-37)

D The statement I can understand your need to find an answer to what caused this. What else are you thinking about? is very appropriate for the nurse. It demonstrates caring and compassion and allows the mother to vent her thoughts and feelings, which is therapeutic in the process of grieving. The nurse should resist the temptation to give advice or to use clichs in offering support to the bereaved. In addition, trying to give bereaved parents answers when no clear answers exist or trying to squelch their guilt feeling does not help the process of grieving. Silence would probably increase the mothers feelings of guilt. One of the most important goals of the nurse is to validate the experience and feelings of the parents by encouraging them to tell their stories and then listening with care. The nurse should encourage the mother to express her thoughts.

After giving birth to a stillborn infant, the woman turns to the nurse and says, I just finished painting the babys room. Do you think that caused my baby to die? What is the nurses most appropriate response? a. Thats an old wives tale; lots of women are around paint during pregnancy, and this doesnt happen to them. b. Thats not likely. Paint is associated with elevated pediatric lead levels. c. Silence. d. I can understand your need to find an answer to what caused this. What else are you thinking about?

3 Explanation: 3. Flat affect would be an emotional response to loss.

As the couple and their families begin to confront the pain of their loss, many normal manifestations of grief may be present. Which of the following would indicate an emotional response to the loss? 1. Lack of meaning or direction 2. Preoccupation 3. Flat affect 4. Dreams of the deceased

ANS: A, B, D, E These structural changes will most likely affect a variety of systems, including the heart, eyes, kidneys, and nerves. IUFD (stillbirth) remains a major complication of diabetes in pregnancy; however, this is a fetal complication.

Diabetes refers to a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin action, insulin secretion, or both. Over time, diabetes causes significant changes in the microvascular and macrovascular circulations. What do these complications include? (Select all that apply.) a. Atherosclerosis b. Retinopathy c. Intrauterine fetal death (IUFD) d. Nephropathy e. Neuropathy f. Autonomic neuropathy

C Preterm and postterm are strictly measures of timebefore 37 weeks and beyond 42 weeks, respectivelyregardless of the size for gestational age.

For clinical purposes, the most accurate definition of preterm and postterm infants is defined as what? a. Preterm: Before 34 weeks of gestation if the infant is appropriate for gestational age (AGA); before 37 weeks if the infant is small for gestational age (SGA) b. Postterm: After 40 weeks of gestation if the infant is large for gestational age (LGA); beyond 42 weeks if the infant is AGA c. Preterm: Before 37 weeks of gestation and postterm beyond 42 weeks of gestation; no matter the size for gestational age at birth d. Preterm: Before 38 to 40 weeks of gestation if the infant is SGA; postterm, beyond 40 to 42 weeks gestation if the infant is LGA

2 Explanation: 2. The nurse can facilitate the spiritual needs of the couple by providing an atmosphere of acceptance regarding spiritual rites and encouraging the couples use of spiritual writings, prayers, and observances.

How does the nurse consider the spiritual needs of a couple experiencing a fetal loss? 1. Explaining the fetal loss in terms of the nurses own religious beliefs 2. Providing an atmosphere of acceptance regarding the couples spiritual rites 3. Referring the couple to the hospital chaplain at discharge 4. Informing the couple of religious rituals that have helped other couples to cope with fetal loss

B Corrections are made with a formula that adds gestational age and postnatal age. Whether a girl or boy, the infant experiences catch-up body growth during the first 2 to 3 years of life. Maximum catch-up growth occurs between 36 and 40 weeks of postconceptual age. The head is the first to experience catch-up growth.

In appraising the growth and development potential of a preterm infant, the nurse should be cognizant of the information that is best described in which statement? a. Tell the parents that their child will not catch up until approximately age 10 years (for girls) to age 12 years (for boys). b. Correct for milestones, such as motor competencies and vocalizations, until the child is approximately 2 years of age. c. Know that the greatest catch-up period is between 9 and 15 months postconceptual age. d. Know that the length and breadth of the trunk is the first part of the infant to experience catch-up growth.

B ROP is thought to occur as a result of high levels of oxygen in the blood. NEC is caused by the interference of blood supply to the intestinal mucosa. Necrotic lesions occur at that site. BPD is caused by the use of positive pressure ventilation against the immature lung tissue. IVH results from the rupture of the fragile blood vessels in the ventricles of the brain and is most often associated with hypoxic injury, increased blood pressure, and fluctuating cerebral blood flow.

In caring for the preterm infant, what complication is thought to be a result of high arterial blood oxygen level? a. NEC b. ROP c. BPD d. Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH)

B Some generalized signs of NEC include decreased activity, hypotonia, pallor, recurrent apnea and bradycardia, decreased oxygen saturation values, respiratory distress, metabolic acidosis, oliguria, hypotension, decreased perfusion, temperature instability, cyanosis, abdominal distention, residual gastric aspirates, vomiting, grossly bloody stools, abdominal tenderness, and erythema of the abdominal wall. The infant may display hypotonia, bradycardia, and metabolic acidosis.

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is an inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal mucosa. The signs of NEC are nonspecific. What are generalized signs and symptoms of this condition? a. Hypertonia, tachycardia, and metabolic alkalosis b. Abdominal distention, temperature instability, and grossly bloody stools c. Hypertension, absence of apnea, and ruddy skin color d. Scaphoid abdomen, no residual with feedings, and increased urinary output

D Physical contact with the infant is important to establish early bonding. The nurse as the support person and teacher is responsible for shaping the environment and making the caregiving responsive to the needs of both the parents and the infant. Allowing the parents to hold their baby is the most appropriate response by the nurse. Parental interaction by holding should be encouraged during gavage feedings; nasal cannula oxygen therapy allows for easy feedings and psychosocial interactions. The parent can swaddle the infant or provide kangaroo care while gavage feeding their infant. Both swaddling and kangaroo care during feedings provide positive interactions for the infant and help the infant associate feedings with positive interactions.

On day 3 of life, a newborn continues to require 100% oxygen by nasal cannula. The parents ask if they may hold their infant during his next gavage feeding. Considering that this newborn is physiologically stable, what response should the nurse provide? a. Parents are not allowed to hold their infants who are dependent on oxygen. b. You may only hold your babys hand during the feeding. c. Feedings cause more physiologic stress; therefore, the baby must be closely monitored. I dont think you should hold the baby. d. You may hold your baby during the feeding.

D Some religions prohibit autopsies or limit the choice to the times when it may help prevent further loss. The cost of the autopsy must be considered; it is not covered by insurance and can be very expensive. There is no rush to perform an autopsy unless evidence of a contagious disease or maternal infection is present at the time of death. The rate of autopsies is declining, in part because of a fear by medical facilities that errors by the staff might be revealed, resulting in litigation.

Parents are often asked if they would like to have an autopsy performed on their infant. Nurses who are assisting parents with this decision should be aware of which information? a. Autopsies are usually covered by insurance. b. Autopsies must be performed within a few hours after the infants death. c. In the current litigious society, more autopsies are performed than in the past. d. Some religions prohibit autopsy.

ANS: B Preconception counseling is particularly important since strict metabolic control before conception and in the early weeks of gestation is instrumental in decreasing the risk of congenital anomalies. Frequent episodes of maternal hypoglycemia may occur during the first trimester (not before conception) as a result of hormonal changes and the effects on insulin production and use. Hydramnios occurs approximately 10 times more often in diabetic pregnancies than in nondiabetic pregnancies. Typically, it is observed in the third trimester of pregnancy. Hyperemesis gravidarum may exacerbate hypoglycemic events because the decreased food intake by the mother and glucose transfer to the fetus contribute to hypoglycemia.

Preconception counseling is critical in the safe management of diabetic pregnancies. Which complication is commonly associated with poor glycemic control before and during early pregnancy? a.Frequent episodes of maternal hypoglycemia b.Congenital anomalies in the fetus c.Hydramnios d.Hyperemesis gravidarum

1, 3, 4, 5 Explanation: 1. Fetal loss can be a result of a number of physiologic maladaptations, including maternal diabetes. 3. Chromosomal abnormalities can be associated with fetal loss. 4. Infections such as human parvovirus B19, syphilis, streptococcal infection, and Listeria can lead to fetal loss. 5. Placental abnormalities such as abruptio placentae and placenta previa can result in fetal death.

The client in the first trimester of pregnancy questions the nurse about the causes of fetal death. The nurse explains that factors associated with perinatal loss include which of the following? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply. 1. Maternal diabetes 2. Paternal hypertension 3. Fetal chromosomal disorders 4. Maternal infections 5. Placental abnormalities

1 Explanation: 1. Diagnosis of intrauterine fetal death (IUFD) is confirmed by visualization of the fetal heart with absence of heart action on ultrasound.

The client at 37 weeks gestation calls the clinic nurse to report that neither she nor her partner has felt fetal movement for the past 48 hours. The nurse anticipates that the physician will order which test to assess fetal viability? 1. Ultrasound 2. Serum progesterone levels 3. Computed tomography (CT) scan 4. Contraction stress test

2 Explanation: 2. Maintaining belief is defined as believing in the parents capacity to get through the event and face a future with meaning and it is one of the attributes of caring theory.

The community nurse is planning care for a family that experienced the loss of twins at 20 weeks. Which of these steps should be part of the nurses care of this family? 1. Base care on the reactions of previous clients who experienced stillbirth. 2. Express the belief that the family will be able to get through this experience. 3. Encourage the couple to keep their feelings to themselves. 4. Honor the birth by reminding the couple that their babies are happy in heaven.

2 Explanation: 2. The nurse should offer the couple the opportunity to see and hold the infant and reassure the couple that any decision they make for themselves is the right one.

The nurse is working with a laboring woman who has a known intrauterine fetal demise. To facilitate the familys acceptance of the fetal loss, after delivery the nurse should do which of the following? 1. Encourage the parents to look at the infant from across the room. 2. Offer the parents the choice of holding the infant in their arms. 3. Take the infant to the morgue immediately. 4. Call family members and inform them of the birth.

B Hemolytic disorders in the newborn are the most common cause of pathologic hyperbilirubinemia (jaundice). Although hepatic damage, prematurity, and congenital heart defects may cause pathologic hyperbilirubinemia, they are not the most common causes.

To explain hemolytic disorders in the newborn to new parents, the nurse who cares for the newborn population must be aware of the physiologic characteristics related to these conditions. What is the most common cause of pathologic hyperbilirubinemia? a. Hepatic disease b. Hemolytic disorders c. Postmaturity d. Congenital heart defect

C Parents showing signs of complicated grief should be referred for counseling. Multiple births, in which not all of the babies survive, create a complicated parenting situation but not complicated bereavement. Abortion can generate complicated emotional responses, but these responses do not constitute complicated bereavement. Families of lost adolescent pregnancies may have to deal with complicated issues, but these issues are not complicated bereavement.

Which statement most accurately describes complicated grief? a. Occurs when, in multiple births, one child dies and the other or others live b. Is a state during which the parents are ambivalent, as with an abortion c. Is an extremely intense grief reaction that persists for a long time d. Is felt by the family of adolescent mothers who lose their babies

3 Explanation: 3. Some parents will hold their infant for a short time before returning him or her to the nurse, whereas others will wish to spend a great deal of time with their infant. Allow the infant to remain with the parents for as long as they desire.

A client has delivered a stillborn infant at 28 weeks gestation. Which nursing action is appropriate? 1. Discuss funeral options for the baby. 2. Encourage the couple to try to get pregnant again soon. 3. Ask the couple whether or not they would like to hold the baby. 4. Advise the couple that the babys death was probably for the best.

2 Explanation: 2. Intuitive grievers tend to feel their way through the loss and seek emotional and psychosocial support.

3) The community nurse has identified that the mother who gave birth to a stillborn baby last week is an intuitive griever. Which behavior has the nurse encountered that would lead to this assessment? 1. The mother verbalized that her problem-solving skills have been helpful during this process. 2. The mother repeatedly talks about her thoughts, feelings, and emotions about losing her child. 3. The mother talks little about her experience, and appears detached and unaffected by the loss of her child. 4. The mother has asked close friends, co-workers, and relatives not to call or visit.

ANS: A, C Fever, restlessness, tachycardia, vomiting, hypotension, and stupor are symptoms of a thyroid storm. Fever, not hypothermia; tachycardia, not bradycardia; and hypotension, not hypertension, are symptoms of thyroid storm.

A serious but uncommon complication of undiagnosed or partially treated hyperthyroidism is a thyroid storm, which may occur in response to stress such as infection, birth, or surgery. What are the signs and symptoms of this emergency disorder? (Select all that apply.) a.Fever b.Hypothermia c.Restlessness d.Bradycardia e.Hypertension

2 Explanation: 2. After bathing, the infant should be placed in a suitable-sized gown and then wrapped in a blanket.

A woman has just delivered a stillborn child at 26 weeks gestation. Which nursing action is appropriate at this time? 1. Remind the mother that she will be able to have another baby in the future. 2. Dress the infant in a gown and swaddle it in a receiving blanket. 3. Ask the woman whether she would like the doctor to prescribe a sedative for her. 4. Remove the baby from the delivery room as soon as possible.

D The nurse needs to understand that decreased immune functioning increases the risk for infection. Growth and development, thermoregulation, and feeding may be affected, although only indirectly.

Because of the premature infants decreased immune functioning, what nursing diagnosis should the nurse include in a plan of care for a premature infant? a. Delayed growth and development b. Ineffective thermoregulation c. Ineffective infant feeding pattern d. Risk for infection

B The second phase of grieving encompasses a wide range of intense emotions, including guilt, anger, bitterness, fear, and anxiety. What the nurse would hope not to see is numbness or unresponsiveness, which indicates that the parents are still in denial or shock.

During a follow-up home visit, the nurse plans to evaluate whether parents have progressed to the second stage of grieving (phase of intense grief). Which behavior would the nurse not anticipate finding? a. Guilt, particularly in the mother b. Numbness or lack of response c. Bitterness or irritability d. Fear and anxiety, especially about getting pregnant again

1 Explanation: 1. Powerlessness is commonly experienced by families who face fetal loss. Powerlessness is related to lack of control in current situational crisis.

The labor and delivery nurse is caring for a client whose labor is being induced due to fetal death in utero at 35 weeks gestation. In planning intrapartum care for this client, which nursing diagnosis is most likely to be applied? 1. Powerlessness 2. Urinary Elimination, Impaired 3. Coping: Family, Readiness for Enhanced 4. Skin Integrity, Impaired

1, 2, 3 Explanation: 1. Denial and disbelief are common cognitive responses to fetal loss. 2. A sense of unreality is a common cognitive response to fetal loss. 3. Poor concentration is a common cognitive response to loss.

The nurse is caring for a client who has just been informed of the demise of her unborn fetus. Which common cognitive responses to loss would the nurse anticipate? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply. 1. Denial and disbelief 2. Sense of unreality 3. Poor concentration 4. Palpitations 5. Loss of appetite

4 Explanation: 4. Adolescents rely heavily on peer support and have a natural mistrust of authority figures, which can make assisting them more difficult.

A 15-year-old client has delivered a 22-week stillborn fetus. What does the nurse understand? 1. Grieving a fetal loss manifests with very similar behaviors regardless of the age of the client. 2. Teens tend to withhold emotions and need older adults with the same type of loss to help process the experience. 3. Most teens have had a great deal of contact with death and loss and have an established method of coping. 4. Assisting the client might be difficult because of her mistrust of authority figures.

ANS: B This client's clinical cues include weight loss, which supports a nursing diagnosis of "Imbalanced nutrition: less than body requirements." No clinical signs or symptoms support a nursing diagnosis of deficient fluid volume. This client reports weight loss, not weight gain. Although the client reports nervousness, the most appropriate nursing diagnosis, based on the client's other clinical symptoms, is "Imbalanced nutrition: less than body requirements."

A 26-year-old primigravida has come to the clinic for her regular prenatal visit at 12 weeks. She appears thin and somewhat nervous. She reports that she eats a well-balanced diet, although her weight is 5 pounds less than it was at her last visit. The results of laboratory studies confirm that she has a hyperthyroid condition. Based on the available data, the nurse formulates a plan of care. Which nursing diagnosis is most appropriate for the client at this time? a.Deficient fluid volume b.Imbalanced nutrition: less than body requirements c.Imbalanced nutrition: more than body requirements d.Disturbed sleep pattern

1 Explanation: 1. Disenfranchised grief is not supported by the usual societal customs. People are uncomfortable discussing the loss with the parents and often pull away when their support is most needed.

A client has delivered a stillborn child at 26 weeks gestation. She tells the nurse that none of her friends have called or visited, and that her husbands parents seem unwilling to talk about the loss. The nurse recognizes the mothers grief as which of the following? 1. Disenfranchised grief 2. Bereavement 3. An intuitive style of coping 4. Denial

3 Explanation: 3. Perinatal loss is unique in that the parents have not had experiences with the child that was to be, and attachment is based mostly upon hopes and dreams for the future relationship.

A client has experienced a stillbirth. Which statement by the nurse would be appropriate? 1. You are young. You can try again. 2. At least you have your other children. 3. Im sure you had many dreams and hopes for the future. 4. Its a blessing in disguise.

2 Explanation: 2. Sitting down for a moment with the woman and her partner and acknowledging the loss in the event of a known demise or impending death will go a long way toward establishing a relationship of trust between the nurse and the parents.

A pregnant couple have been notified that their 32-week fetus is dead. The father is yelling at the staff, and his wife is crying uncontrollably. Their 5-year-old daughter is banging the head of her doll on the floor. Which nursing action would be most helpful at this time? 1. Tell the father that his behavior is inappropriate. 2. Sit with the family and quietly communicate sorrow at their loss. 3. Help the couple to understand that their daughter is acting inappropriately. 4. Encourage the couple to send their daughter to her grandparents.

B IUGR is either symmetric or asymmetric. The symmetric form occurs in the first trimester; infants who are SGA have reduced brain capacity. The asymmetric form occurs in the later stages of pregnancy. Weight is less than the 10th percentile; head circumference is greater than the 10th percentile. Infants with asymmetric IUGR have the potential for normal growth and development.

With regard to infants who are SGA and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), the nurse should be aware of which information? a. In the first trimester, diseases or abnormalities result in asymmetric IUGR. b. Infants with asymmetric IUGR have the potential for normal growth and development. c. In asymmetric IUGR, weight is slightly larger than SGA, whereas length and head circumference are somewhat less than SGA. d. Symmetric IUGR occurs in the later stages of pregnancy.

4 Explanation: 4. The nurse needs to let the client know that crying is a normal reaction to the loss event, and that the nurse will stay with her to offer support and understanding.

A client has just delivered her third child, who was stillborn and had obvious severe defects. Which statement by the nurse is most helpful? 1. Thank goodness you have other children. 2. I am so happy that your other children are healthy. 3. These things happen. They are the will of God. 4. It is all right for you to cry. I will stay here with you.

B The immediate reaction to news of a perinatal loss or infant death encompasses a period of acute distress. Disbelief and denial can occur. However, parents also feel very sad and depressed. Intense outbursts of emotion and crying are normal. However, a lack of affect, euphoria, and calmness may occur and may reflect numbness, denial, or personal ways of coping with stress. Anticipatory grief applies to the grief related to a potential loss of an infant. The parent grieves in preparation of the infants possible death, although he or she clings to the hope that the child will survive. Intense grief occurs in the first few months after the death of the infant. This phase encompasses many different emotions, including loneliness, emptiness, yearning, guilt, anger, and fear. Reorganization occurs after a long and intense search for meaning. Parents are better able to function at work and home, experience a return of self-esteem and confidence, can cope with new challenges, and have placed the loss in perspective.

A client is diagnosed with having a stillborn infant. At first, she appears stunned by the news, cries a little, and then asks the nurse to call her mother. What is the proper term for the phase of bereavement that this client is experiencing? a. Anticipatory grief b. Acute distress c. Intense grief d. Reorganization

1, 3 Explanation: 1. After bathing, the infant should be placed in a suitable-sized gown and then wrapped in a blanket. Many parents will eventually remove the covering to inspect the infant; however, applying a covering allows them time to adjust to the appearance at their own pace. 3. A hat can be applied to cover birth defects. This allows the parents an opportunity to view the infant before seeing the birth defect.

A couple request to see their stillborn infant. How should the nurse prepare the infant? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply. 1. Wrapping the infant in a blanket 2. Removing all blankets from the infant 3. Placing a hat on the infant 4. Removing any identification from the infant 5. Placing a diaper on the infant

D Accepting that the infant is dead (in the past tense of the word) demonstrates an acceptance of the reality and that the family has begun to grieve. Parents of multiples are challenged with the task of parenting and grieving at the same time. Referring to the two live infants as twins does not acknowledge an acceptance of the existence of their third child. Bringing in play clothes for all three infants indicates that the parents are still in denial regarding the death of the third triplet. The death of the third infant has imposed a confusing and ambivalent induction into parenthood for this couple. If the two live infants are referred to as twins and/or if play clothes for all three infants are still considered, then the family is clearly still in denial regarding the death of one of the triplets.

A family is visiting two surviving triplets. The third triplet died 2 days ago. What action indicates that the family has begun to grieve for the dead infant? a. Refers to the two live infants as twins b. Asks about the dead triplets current status c. Brings in play clothes for all three infants d. Refers to the dead infant in the past tense

ANS: B PKU is a cause of mental retardation in infants; mothers with PKU pass on phenylalanine and therefore should elect not to breastfeed. A woman with either hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism would have no particular reason not to breastfeed. A thyroid storm is a complication of hyperthyroidism and is not a contraindication to breastfeeding.

A new mother with a thyroid disorder has come for a lactation follow-up appointment. Which thyroid disorder is a contraindication for breastfeeding? a. Hyperthyroidism b. PKU c. Hypothyroidism d. Thyroid storm

B The phase of intense grief can be very difficult, especially for fathers. Parents should be encouraged to share their feelings during the initial steps in the grieving process. This father is in a phase of acute distress and is reaching out to the nurse as a source of direction in his grieving process. Shifting the focus is not in the best interest of the parent. Nursing actions may help the parents actualize the loss of their infant through a sharing and verbalization of their feelings of grief. Telling the father that his son is going to die sooner or later is dispassionate and an inappropriate statement on the part of the nurse.

A newborn in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is dying as a result of a massive infection. The parents speak to the neonatologist, who informs them of their sons prognosis. When the father sees his son, he says, He looks just fine to me. I cant understand what all this is about. What is the most appropriate response or reaction by the nurse at this time? a. Didn't the physician tell you about your sons problems? b. This must be a difficult time for you. Tell me how youre doing. c. Quietly stand beside the infants father. d. You'll have to face up to the fact that he is going to die sooner or later.

B The nurse is instrumental in the initial interactions with the infant. The nurse can help the parents see the infant rather than focus on the equipment. The importance and purpose of the apparatus that surrounds their infant also should be explained to them. Parents often need encouragement and recognition from the nurse to acknowledge the reality of the infants condition. Parents need to see and touch their infant as soon as possible to acknowledge the reality of the birth and the infants appearance and condition. Encouragement from the nurse is instrumental in this process. Telling the parents to avoid touching their baby is inappropriate and unhelpful.

A newborn was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) after being delivered at 29 weeks of gestation to a 28-year-old multiparous, married, Caucasian woman whose pregnancy was uncomplicated until the premature rupture of membranes and preterm birth. The newborns parents arrive for their first visit after the birth. The parents walk toward the bedside but remain approximately 5 feet away from the bed. What is the nurses most appropriate action? a. Wait quietly at the newborns bedside until the parents come closer. b. Go to the parents, introduce him or herself, and gently encourage them to meet their infant. Explain the equipment first, and then focus on the newborn. c. Leave the parents at the bedside while they are visiting so that they have some privacy. d. Tell the parents only about the newborns physical condition and caution them to avoid touching their baby.

ANS: C Pregnant women develop increased insulin resistance during the second and third trimesters. Insulin never crosses the placenta; the fetus starts making its own around the 10th week. As a result of normal metabolic changes during pregnancy, insulin-dependent women are prone to hypoglycemia (low levels). Maternal insulin requirements may double or quadruple by the end of pregnancy.

A number of metabolic changes occur throughout pregnancy. Which physiologic adaptation of pregnancy will influence the nurse's plan of care? a.Insulin crosses the placenta to the fetus only in the first trimester, after which the fetus secretes its own. b.Women with insulin-dependent diabetes are prone to hyperglycemia during the first trimester because they are consuming more sugar. c.During the second and third trimesters, pregnancy exerts a diabetogenic effect that ensures an abundant supply of glucose for the fetus. d.Maternal insulin requirements steadily decline during pregnancy.

D Survivor guilt is sometimes felt by grandparents because they feel that the death is out of order; they are still alive, while their grandchild has died. They may express anger that they are alive and their grandchild is not. The siblings of the expired infant may also experience a profound loss. A young child will respond to the reactions of the parents and may act out. Older children have a more complete understanding of the loss. School-age children are likely to be frightened, whereas teenagers are at a loss on how to react. The mother of the infant is experiencing intense grief at this time. She may be dealing with questions such as, Why me? or Why my baby? and is unlikely to be experiencing survival guilt. Realizing that fathers can be experiencing deep pain beneath their calm and quiet appearance and may need help acknowledging these feelings is important. This need, however, is not the same as survivor guilt.

A nurse caring for a family during a loss might notice that a family member is experiencing survivor guilt. Which family member is most likely to exhibit this guilt? a. Siblings b. Mother c. Father d. Grandparents

C Kangaroo care is skin-to-skin holding in which the infant, dressed only in a diaper, is placed directly on the parents bare chest and then covered. The procedure helps infants interact with their parents and regulates their temperature, among other developmental benefits. Kangaroo care was established in Bogota, Colombia, assists the infant in maintaining an organized state, and decreases pain perception during heelsticks. Even premature infants who are unable to suckle benefit from kangaroo care. This practice fosters increased vigor and an enhanced breastfeeding experience as the infant matures.

A nurse practicing in the perinatal setting should promote kangaroo care regardless of an infants gestational age. Which statement regarding this intervention is most appropriate? a. Kangaroo care was adopted from classical British nursing traditions. b. This intervention helps infants with motor and CNS impairments. c. Kangaroo care helps infants interact directly with their parents and enhances their temperature regulation. d. This intervention gets infants ready for breastfeeding.

A Meconium aspiration, hypoglycemia, and dry, cracked skin are consistent with a postmature infant. Excessive vernix caseosa, lethargy, and RDS are consistent with a very premature infant. The skin may be meconium stained, but the infant will most likely have long hair and decreased amounts of subcutaneous fat. Postmaturity with a nonreactive NST is indicative of hypoxia. Signs and symptoms associated with fetal hypoxia are hypoglycemia, temperature instability, and lethargy.

A pregnant woman was admitted for induction of labor at 43 weeks of gestation with sure dates. A nonstress test (NST) in the obstetricians office revealed a nonreactive tracing. On artificial rupture of membranes, thick meconium-stained fluid was noted. What should the nurse caring for the infant after birth anticipate? a. Meconium aspiration, hypoglycemia, and dry, cracked skin b. Excessive vernix caseosa covering the skin, lethargy, and RDS c. Golden yellow to green-stained skin and nails, absence of scalp hair, and an increased amount of subcutaneous fat d. Hyperglycemia, hyperthermia, and an alert, wide-eyed appearance

B Ineffective coping, related to environmental stress is the most appropriate nursing diagnosis for this infant. Light and sound are known adverse stimuli that add to an already stressed premature infant. The nurse must closely monitor the environment for sources of overstimulation. Although the infant may be severely immature in this case, she is responding to environmental stress. Physiologic distress is the response to environmental stress. The result is stress cues such as increased metabolic rate, increased oxygen and caloric use, and depression of the immune system. The infants behavioral response to the environmental stress is crying. The appropriate nursing diagnosis reflects the cause of this response.

A premature infant never seems to sleep longer than an hour at a time. Each time a light is turned on, an incubator closes, or people talk near her crib, she wakes up and inconsolably cries until held. What is the correct nursing diagnosis beginning with ineffective coping, related to? a. Severe immaturity b. Environmental stress c. Physiologic distress d. Behavioral responses

A Surfactant can be administered as an adjunct to oxygen and ventilation therapy. With the administration of an artificial surfactant, respiratory compliance is improved until the infant can generate enough surfactant on his or her own. Surfactant has no bearing on the sedation needs of the infant. Surfactant is used to improve respiratory compliance, including the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. The goal of surfactant therapy in an infant with RDS is to stimulate the production of surfactant in the type 2 cells of the alveoli. The clinical presentation of RDS and neonatal pneumonia may be similar. The infant may be started on broad-spectrum antibiotics to treat infection.

A premature infant with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) receives artificial surfactant. How does the nurse explain surfactant therapy to the parents? a. Surfactant improves the ability of your babys lungs to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide. b. The drug keeps your baby from requiring too much sedation. c. Surfactant is used to reduce episodes of periodic apnea. d. Your baby needs this medication to fight a possible respiratory tract infection.

4 Explanation: 4. The nurse should offer the couple the opportunity to see and hold the infant, and reassure the couple that any decision they make for themselves is the right one.

The nurse is caring for a couple who are in the labor/delivery room immediately after the delivery of a stillborn baby with visible defects. Which of the following actions by the nurse is appropriate? 1. Discourage the parents from naming the baby. 2. Advise the parents that the babys defects would be too upsetting for them to see. 3. Transport the baby to the morgue as soon as possible. 4. Offer the parents the choice to see and hold the baby.

ANS: B Before a treatment plan is developed or goals for the outcome of care are outlined, this client must come to an understanding of diabetes and the potential effects on her pregnancy. She appears more concerned about changes to her social life than adopting a new self-care regimen. Risk for injury to the fetus related to either placental insufficiency or birth trauma may come later in the pregnancy. At this time, the client is having difficulty acknowledging the adjustments that she needs to make to her lifestyle to care for herself during pregnancy. The client may not yet be on insulin. Insulin requirements increase with gestation. The importance of glycemic control must be part of health teaching for this client. However, she has not yet acknowledged that changes to her lifestyle need to be made and may not participate in the plan of care until understanding takes place.

An 18-year-old client who has reached 16 weeks of gestation was recently diagnosed with pregestational diabetes. She attends her centering appointment accompanied by one of her girlfriends. This young woman appears more concerned about how her pregnancy will affect her social life than her recent diagnosis of diabetes. A number of nursing diagnoses are applicable to assist in planning adequate care. What is the most appropriate diagnosis at this time? a. Risk for injury, to the fetus related to birth trauma b. Deficient knowledge, related to diabetic pregnancy management c. Deficient knowledge, related to insulin administration d. Risk for injury, to the mother related to hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia

A Listening to breath sounds and ensuring the patency of the endotracheal tube, increasing oxygen, and notifying a physician are appropriate nursing interventions to assist in optimal oxygen saturation of the infant. Oxygen saturation should be maintained above 92%, and oxygenation status of the infant is crucial. The nurse should delay other tasks to stabilize the infant. Notifying the parents that the infant is not doing well is not an appropriate action. Further assessment and intervention are warranted before determining fetal status.

An infant at 26 weeks of gestation arrives intubated from the delivery room. The nurse weighs the infant, places him under the radiant warmer, and attaches him to the ventilator at the prescribed settings. A pulse oximeter and cardiorespiratory monitor are placed. The pulse oximeter is recording oxygen saturations of 80%. The prescribed saturations are 92%. What is the nurses most appropriate action at this time? a. Listening to breath sounds, and ensuring the patency of the endotracheal tube, increasing oxygen, and notifying a physician b. Continuing to observe and making no changes until the saturations are 75% c. Continuing with the admission process to ensure that a thorough assessment is completed d. Notifying the parents that their infant is not doing well

C The laboratory value of PaO2 of 45 mm Hg is below the range for a normal neonate and indicates hypoxia in this infant. The normal range for PaO2 is 60 to 80 mm Hg; therefore, PaO2 levels of 67 and 73 mm Hg fall within the normal range, and a PaO2 of 89 mm Hg is higher than the normal range.

An infant at 36 weeks of gestation has increasing respirations (80 to 100 breaths per minute with significant substernal retractions). The infant is given oxygen by continuous nasal positive airway pressure (CPAP). What level of partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2) indicates hypoxia? a. 67 mm Hg b. 89 mm Hg c. 45 mm Hg d. 73 mm Hg

C The age of a preterm newborn is corrected by adding the gestational age and the postnatal age. The infants responses are accordingly evaluated against the norm expected for the corrected age of the infant. The baby is currently 40 weeks of postconceptional age and can be expected to be doing what a 40-week-old infant would be doing. Although predicting with complete accuracy the growth and development potential of each preterm infant is impossible, certain measurable factors predict normal growth and development. The preterm infant experiences catch-up body growth during the first 2 to 3 years of life. Development needs to be evaluated over time. The growth and developmental milestones are corrected for gestational age until the child is approximately years old.

An infant is being discharged from the NICU after 70 days of hospitalization. The infant was born at 30 weeks of gestation with several conditions associated with prematurity, including RDS, mild bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), requiring surgical treatment. During discharge teaching, the infants mother asks the nurse if her baby will meet developmental milestones on time, as did her son who was born at term. What is the nurses most appropriate response? a. Your baby will develop exactly like your first child. b. Your baby does not appear to have any problems at this time. c. Your baby will need to be corrected for prematurity. d. Your baby will need to be followed very closely.

C Feedings by gravity are slowly accomplished over 20- to 30-minute periods to prevent adverse reactions. Rapid bolusing would most likely lead to the adverse reactions listed. Temperature stability in the newborn is critical. Applying warm cloths to the abdomen would not be appropriate because the environment is not thermoregulated. In addition, abdominal warming is not indicated with feedings of any kind. Small feedings at room temperature are recommended to prevent adverse reactions.

An infant is to receive gastrostomy feedings. Which intervention should the nurse institute to prevent bloating, gastrointestinal reflux into the esophagus, vomiting, and respiratory compromise? a. Rapid bolusing of the entire amount in 15 minutes b. Warm cloths to the abdomen for the first 10 minutes c. Slow, small, warm bolus feedings over 30 minutes d. Cold, medium bolus feedings over 20 minutes

C The infant has minimal-to-no fat stores. During times of cold stress, the skin becomes mottled and acrocyanosis develops, progressing to cyanosis. Even if the infant is being cared for on a radiant warmer or in an isolette, the nurses role is to observe the infant frequently to prevent heat loss and to respond quickly if signs and symptoms of cold stress occur. The respiratory rate increases, followed by periods of apnea. The infant initially tries to conserve heat and burns more calories, after which the metabolic system goes into overdrive. In the preterm infant who is experiencing heat loss, the heart rate initially increases, followed by periods of bradycardia. In the term infant, increased physical activity is the natural response to heat loss. However, in a term infant who is experiencing respiratory distress or in a preterm infant, physical activity is decreased.

By understanding the four mechanisms of heat transfer (convection, conduction, radiation, and evaporation), the nurse can create an environment for the infant that prevents temperature instability. Which significant symptoms will the infant display when experiencing cold stress? a. Decreased respiratory rate b. Bradycardia, followed by an increased heart rate c. Mottled skin with acrocyanosis d. Increased physical activity

ANS: C Diet and insulin needs change during the pregnancy in direct correlation to hormonal changes and energy needs. In the third trimester, insulin needs may double or even quadruple. The diet is individualized to allow for increased fetal and metabolic requirements, with consideration of such factors as prepregnancy weight and dietary habits, overall health, ethnic background, lifestyle, stage of pregnancy, knowledge of nutrition, and insulin therapy. Energy needs are usually calculated on the basis of 30 to 35 calories per kilogram of ideal body weight. Dietary management during a diabetic pregnancy must be based on blood, not urine, glucose changes.

During a prenatal visit, the nurse is explaining dietary management to a woman with pregestational diabetes. Which statement by the client reassures the nurse that teaching has been effective? a."I will need to eat 600 more calories per day because I am pregnant." b."I can continue with the same diet as before pregnancy as long as it is well balanced." c."Diet and insulin needs change during pregnancy." d."I will plan my diet based on the results of urine glucose testing."

A Other symptoms might include hypotension, prolonged capillary refill, and tachycardia, followed by bradycardia. Intervention is necessary. Preterm infants are susceptible to temperature instability. The goal of thermoregulation is to provide a neutral thermal environment. Hypoglycemia is likely to occur if the infant is attempting to conserve heat. CNS injury is manifested by hyperirritability, seizures, and abnormal movements of the extremities. Urine output and testing of specific gravity are appropriate interventions for the infant with suspected renal failure. This neonate is unlikely to be delivered with respiratory distress.

During the assessment of a preterm infant, the nurse notices continued respiratory distress even though oxygen and ventilation have been provided. In this situation, which condition should the nurse suspect? a. Hypovolemia and/or shock b. Excessively cool environment c. Central nervous system (CNS) injury d. Pending renal failure

C The nurse is always the clients advocate. Nurses can offer support and guidance and yet leave room for the same from grandparents. In the end, however, nurses should let the parents make the final decisions. For the nurse to be able to present options regarding burial and autopsy, among other issues, in a sensitive and respectful manner is essential. The nurse should assist the parents in any way possible; however, taking over all arrangements is not the nurses role. Grandparents are often called on to help make the difficult decisions regarding funeral arrangements or the disposition of the body because they have more life experiences with taking care of these painful, yet required arrangements. Some well-meaning relatives may try to take over all decision-making responsibilities. The nurse must remember that the parents, themselves, should approve all of the final decisions. During this time of acute distress, the nurse should be present to provide quiet support, answer questions, obtain information, and act as a client advocate.

During the initial acute distress phase of grieving, parents still must make unexpected and unwanted decisions about funeral arrangements and even naming the baby. What is the nurses role at this time? a. To take over as much as possible to relieve the pressure b. To encourage the grandparents to take over c. To ensure that the parents, themselves, approve the final decisions d. To leave them alone to work things out

ANS: B Type 2 diabetes often goes undiagnosed because hyperglycemia gradually develops and is often not severe. Type 2, sometimes called adult-onset diabetes, is the most common type of diabetes. GDM refers to any degree of glucose intolerance first recognized during pregnancy; insulin may or may not be needed. People do not go back and forth between type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

In terms of the incidence and classification of diabetes, which information should the nurse keep in mind when evaluating clients during their ongoing prenatal appointments? a.Type 1 diabetes is most common. b.Type 2 diabetes often goes undiagnosed. c.GDM means that the woman will receive insulin treatment until 6 weeks after birth. d.Type 1 diabetes may become type 2 during pregnancy.

A, C, D Thermoregulation problems, hyperbilirubinemia, and sepsis are all conditions related to immaturity and warrant close observation. After discharge, the infant is at risk for rehospitalization related to these problems. Association of Womens Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) launched the Near-Term Infant Initiative to study the problem and ways to ensure that these infants receive adequate care. The nurse should ensure that this infant is adequately feeding before discharge and that parents are taught the signs and symptoms of these complications. Late-preterm infants are also at increased risk for respiratory distress and hypoglycemia.

Infants born between 34 0/7 and 36 6/7 weeks of gestation are called late-preterm infants because they have many needs similar to those of preterm infants. Because they are more stable than early-preterm infants, they may receive care that is similar to that of a full-term baby. These infants are at increased risk for which conditions? (Select all that apply.) a. Problems with thermoregulation b. Cardiac distress c. Hyperbilirubinemia d. Sepsis e. Hyperglycemia

A decrease in the incidence of NEC is directly correlated with exclusive breastfeeding. Breast milk enhances the maturation of the gastrointestinal tract and contains immune factors that contribute to a lower incidence or severity of NEC, Crohn disease, and celiac illness. The NICU nurse can be very supportive of the mother in terms of providing her with equipment to pump breast milk, ensuring privacy, and encouraging skin-to-skin contact with the infant. Early enteral feedings of formula or hyperosmolar feedings are a risk factor known to contribute to the development of NEC. The mother should be encouraged to pump or feed breast milk exclusively. Exchange transfusion may be necessary; however, it is a known risk factor for the development of NEC. Although still early, a study in 2005 found that the introduction of prophylactic probiotics appeared to enhance the normal flora of the bowel and therefore decrease the severity of NEC when it did occur. This treatment modality is not as widespread as encouraging breastfeeding; however, it is another strategy that the care providers of these extremely fragile infants may have at their disposal.

NEC is an acute inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal mucosa that can progress to perforation of the bowel. Approximately 2% to 5% of premature infants succumb to this fatal disease. Care is supportive; however, known interventions may decrease the risk of NEC. Which intervention has the greatest effect on lowering the risk of NEC? a. Early enteral feedings b. Breastfeeding c. Exchange transfusion d. Prophylactic probiotics

B Evidence indicates that organ donation can promote healing among the surviving family members. The federal Gift of Life Act made state OPOs responsible for deciding whether to request a donation and for making that request. The most common donation is the cornea. For cornea donation, the infant must have been born alive at 36 weeks of gestation or later.

Parents have asked the nurse about organ donation after that infants death. Which information regarding organ donation is important for the nurse to understand? a. Federal law requires the medical staff to ask the parents about organ donation and then to contact their states organ procurement organization (OPO) to handle the procedure if the parents agree. b. Organ donation can aid grieving by giving the family an opportunity to see something positive about the experience. c. Most common donation is the infants kidneys. d. Corneas can be donated if the infant was either stillborn or alive as long as the pregnancy went full term.

ANS: A Poor glycemic control later in pregnancy increases the rate of fetal macrosomia. Poor glycemic control during the preconception time frame and into the early weeks of the pregnancy is associated with congenital anomalies. Preterm labor or birth is more likely to occur with severe diabetes and is the greatest risk in women with pregestational diabetes. Increased weight, or macrosomia, is the greatest risk factor for this fetus.

Screening at 24 weeks of gestation reveals that a pregnant woman has gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). In planning her care, the nurse and the client mutually agree that an expected outcome is to prevent injury to the fetus as a result of GDM. This fetus is at the greatest risk for which condition? a. Macrosomia b. Congenital anomalies of the central nervous system c. Preterm birth d. Low birth weight

4, 5 Explanation: 4. Silence is commonly what is needed most, and simply saying Im sorry for your loss might help to facilitate communication. 5. Talking is a way for the client experiencing grief and begin to come to terms with what has happened, and is important for resolution of grief. Intuitive grievers will need to talk about the event.

The mother of a client who has experienced a term stillbirth arrives at the hospital and goes to the nurses desk. The mother asks what she should say to her daughter in this difficult time. What is the nurses best response? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply. 1. Use clichs; your daughter will find the repetition comforting. 2. Remind her that she is young and can have more children. 3. Keep talking about other things to keep her mind off the loss. 4. Express your sadness, and sit silently with her if she doesnt respond. 5. Encourage her to talk about the baby whenever she wants to.

3 Explanation: 3. Group B streptococci can cause ascending infections prior to or after rupture of membranes.

The nurse has returned from working as a maternal-child nurse volunteer for a nongovernmental organization. After completing a community presentation about this experience, the nurse knows that learning has occurred when a participant states which of the following? 1. Malaria is a chronic disease, and rarely causes fetal loss. 2. Escherichia coli bacteria can cause diarrhea but not stillbirth. 3. Group B streptococci can cause infection and the death of the fetus. 4. Viral infections dont cause fetal death in developing nations.

2 Explanation: 2. Upon arrival to the facility, the couple with a known or suspected fetal demise should immediately be placed in a private room. When possible, the woman should be in a room that is farthest away from other laboring women.

The nurse is anticipating the arrival of a couple in the labor unit. It has been determined that the 37-week fetus has died in utero from unknown causes. What should the nurse include in the plan of care for this couple? 1. Allow the couple to adjust to the labor unit in the waiting area. 2. Place the couple in a labor room at the end of the hall with an empty room next door. 3. Encourage the father to go home and rest for a few hours. 4. Contact the mothers emergency contact person and explain the situation.

2 Explanation: 2. Though adolescents have a mature concept of death, it is often clouded by their sense of invulnerability, an It cant happen to me mentality.

The nurse is caring for a 15-year-old who just delivered a 32-weeks-gestation stillborn infant with numerous defects. In caring for this client, the nurse knows which of the following? 1. The client will likely do no grieving, as she is so young and the pregnancy was probably a mistake in any case. 2. Adolescents have a sense of invulnerability, an It cant happen to me mentality. 3. The clients mother will handle her daughters grief, so the nurse doesnt need to be concerned. 4. The nurse will remove the baby before the client sees it.

2 Explanation: 2. Mothers will often blame themselves, whether by commission or omission, particularly in cultures where a womans status is dominated by themes of motherhood and childrearing

The nurse is caring for a client who experienced the birth of a stillborn son earlier in the day. The client is from a culture where a womans status is dominated by themes of motherhood and childrearing. What behavior would the nurse expect in this client? 1. Crying inconsolably 2. Expressing feelings of failure as a woman 3. Requesting family members to be present 4. Showing little emotion

1, 3, 5 Explanation: 1. Families can cope with extreme situations when they are properly informed in an honest and forthright manner. 3. The nurse should be compassionate, give accurate and honest information, and validate the many losses incurred. 5. The nurse caring for a couple who has had a previous loss needs to be kind, compassionate, and patient.

The nurse is caring for a client who finally conceived after several unsuccessful attempts at in vitro fertilization. The client has just been diagnosed with a perinatal loss. What should the nurses plan of care include? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply. 1. Giving accurate and honest information 2. Encouraging the couple to try right away to get pregnant again 3. Validating the many losses the client has experienced 4. Providing possible explanations for the fetal demise 5. Assessing where the client is in the grieving process, and communicating with compassion

1, 2, 5 Explanation: 1. Features of bereaved individuals circumstances that will put them at risk include an unsupportive or unavailable family. 2. With regard to age, adolescent parents probably pose the greatest challenge to nursing interventions. 5. Persistent denial hampers the grieving and healing processes.

The nurse is caring for a client who has just experienced a stillbirth. Which factors does the nurse recognize as potentially complicating the parents response to this loss? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply. 1. Unsupportive family 2. Adolescent mother 3. Strong religious faith 4. Open communication between the parents 5. Persistent denial of the situation

2, 3 Explanation: 2. Pregnancies conceived by in vitro fertilization have higher rates of pregnancy loss and pregnancy complications. 3. Perinatal loss in industrialized countries has declined in recent years as early diagnosis of congenital anomalies and advances in genetic testing techniques have increased the use of elective termination.

The nurse is planning an in-service presentation about perinatal loss. Which statements should the nurse include in this presentation? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply. 1. Perinatal loss refers to third-trimester fetal death in utero. 2. Perinatal loss occurs more frequently in assisted reproduction. 3. Perinatal loss rates have declined in the United States over the past few years. 4. Perinatal loss includes 25% of stillbirths occurring before the onset of labor. 5. Perinatal loss rarely causes an emotional problem for the family.

1 Explanation: 1. The top priority for the nurse is to encourage open communications. The nurse functions as an advocate for the family in organizing interdisciplinary involvement, maintaining continuity of care, offering the opportunity for open communication, and ensuring that the familys wishes regarding their loss experience are honored.

The nurse is present when a mother and her partner are told that their 35-week fetus has died. Which nursing intervention should the nurse perform first? 1. Encourage open communication with the family and the healthcare team. 2. Ask the family to withhold questions until the next day. 3. Request that another nurse come and care for this family. 4. Contact a local funeral home to help the family with funeral plans.

1 Explanation: 1. Families experiencing perinatal loss need support. The nurse should stay with the couple so they do not feel alone and isolated; however, cues that the couple wants to be alone should be assessed continuously.

The nurse is supervising care by a new graduate nurse who is working with a couple who have experienced a stillbirth. Which statement made by the new nurse indicates that further instruction is necessary? 1. I should stay out of their room as much as possible. 2. The parents might express their grief differently from each other. 3. My role is to help the family communicate and cope. 4. Hopelessness might be expressed by this family.

3 Explanation: 3. The intensity to which the grief will be experienced is best understood from the aspect of the level of attachment the grieving person had to the deceased and usually entails finding personal meaning in the loss for successful integration into the grieving persons life.

The nurse is teaching a class on perinatal loss to student nurses. What would the nurse explain about the relationship between attachment and the grief response? 1. The mother has no attachment to the fetus before it is born. 2. The severity of the grieving has nothing to do with attachment to the fetus. 3. The intensity of the grief response can be assessed by determining the level of attachment to the anticipated infant. 4. The mother would feel grief only if it were a planned pregnancy.

1 Explanation: 1. Mourning may be manifested by certain behaviors and rituals, such as weeping, which help the person experience, accept, and adjust to the loss. Page Ref: 945

The nurse is working with a family who experienced the stillbirth of a son 2 months ago. Which statement by the mother would be expected? 1. I seem to keep crying for no reason. 2. The death of my son hasnt changed my life. 3. I have not visited my sons gravesite. 4. I feel happy all the time.

ANS: B Initially, the woman who is unable to down clear liquids by mouth requires IV therapy to correct fluid and electrolyte imbalances. Corticosteroids have been successfully used to treat refractory hyperemesis gravidarum, but they are not the expected initial treatment for this disorder. Pyridoxine is vitamin B6, not an antiemetic medication. Promethazine, a common antiemetic, may be prescribed. In severe cases of hyperemesis gravidarum, enteral nutrition via a feeding tube may be necessary to correct maternal nutritional deprivation but is not the initial treatment for this client.

The nurse who is caring for a woman hospitalized for hyperemesis gravidarum would expect the initial treatment to involve what? a. Corticosteroids to reduce inflammation b. Intravenous (IV) therapy to correct fluid and electrolyte imbalances c. Antiemetic medication, such as pyridoxine, to control nausea and vomiting d. Enteral nutrition to correct nutritional deficits

1 Explanation: 1. Anger, resulting from feelings of loss, loneliness, and, perhaps, guilt, is a common reaction. Anger may be projected at significant others and/or healthcare team members.

The postpartum unit nurse is caring for a client who delivered a term stillborn infant yesterday. The mother is heard screaming at the nutrition services worker, This food is horrible! You people are incompetent and cant cook a simple edible meal! The nurse understands this as which of the following? 1. An indication the mother is in the anger phase of grief. 2. An abnormal response to the loss of the child. 3. Reactive stress management techniques in use. 4. Denial of the death of the child she delivered yesterday.

ANS: C Having a fixed meal schedule will provide the woman and the fetus with a steady blood sugar level, provide a good balance with insulin administration, and help prevent complications. Having a fixed meal schedule is more important than the equal division of food intake. Approximately 45% of the food eaten should be in the form of carbohydrates.

To manage her diabetes appropriately and to ensure a good fetal outcome, how would the pregnant woman with diabetes alter her diet? a.Eat six small equal meals per day. b.Reduce the carbohydrates in her diet. c.Eat her meals and snacks on a fixed schedule. d.Increase her consumption of protein.

B Erythroblastosis fetalis occurs when the fetus compensates for the anemia associated with Rh incompatibility by producing large numbers of immature erythrocytes to replace those hemolyzed. Edema occurs with hydrops fetalis, a more severe form of erythroblastosis fetalis. The fetus with hydrops fetalis may exhibit effusions into the peritoneal, pericardial, and pleural spaces, as well as demonstrate signs of ascites.

What is the clinical finding most likely to be exhibited in an infant diagnosed with erythroblastosis fetalis? a. Edema b. Immature red blood cells c. Enlargement of the heart d. Ascites

A A major preoperative nursing intervention for a neonate with a myelomeningocele is the protection of the protruding sac from injury to prevent its rupture and the resultant risk of central nervous system (CNS) infection. The long-term prognosis in an affected infant can be determined to a large extent at birth, with the degree of neurologic dysfunction related to the level of the lesion, which determines the nerves involved. A myelomeningocele should be surgically closed within 24 hours. Although the nurse should assess for multiple potential problems in this infant, the major nursing intervention is to protect the sac from injury.

What is the highest priority nursing intervention for an infant born with myelomeningocele? a. Protect the sac from injury. b. Prepare the parents for the childs paralysis from the waist down. c. Prepare the parents for closure of the sac when the child is approximately 2 years of age. d. Assess for cyanosis.

A Virtually all controlled clinical trials have demonstrated that effective handwashing is responsible for the prevention of nosocomial infection in nursery units. Measures to be taken include Standard Precautions, careful and thorough cleaning, frequent replacement of used equipment, and disposal of excrement and linens in an appropriate manner. Overcrowding must be avoided in nurseries. However, the most important nursing action for preventing neonatal infection is effective handwashing.

What is the most important nursing action in preventing neonatal infection? a. Good handwashing b. Isolation of infected infants c. Separate gown technique d. Standard Precautions

1, 2, 4 Explanation: 1. It is important to allow the parents to verbalize their concerns. 2. The nurse can facilitate a healthy mourning process for the family by using active listening techniques and avoiding the use of clichs and platitudes. 4. The infant should be wrapped in a blanket to allow parents to see the infant before viewing any deformities.

What of the following nursing interventions are appropriate when caring for the family experiencing a stillbirth? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply. 1. Use active listening techniques. 2. Avoid the use of clichs. 3. Avoid periods of silence. 4. Wrap the infant in a blanket before the parents see the infant. 5. Do not permit the parents of an infant with birth defects to hold the infant.

C Presenting the baby as nicely as possible stimulates the parents senses and provides pleasant memories of their baby. Baby lotion or powder can be applied, and the baby should be wrapped in a soft blanket, clothed, and have a cap placed on his or her head. Nurses must use the words dead and died to assist the bereaved in accepting the reality. Although naming the baby can be helpful, creating the sense that the parents have to name the baby is not important. In fact, some cultural taboos and religious rules prohibit the naming of an infant who has died. Parents need different times with their baby to say good-bye. Nurses need to be careful not to rush the process.

When assisting the mother, father, and other family members to actualize the loss of an infant, which action is most helpful? a. Using the words lost or gone rather than dead or died b. Making sure the family understands that naming the baby is important c. Ensuring the baby is clothed or wrapped if the parents choose to visit with the baby d. Setting a firm time for ending the visit with the baby so that the parents know when to let go

D Because DDH often is not detected at birth, infants should be carefully monitored at follow-up visits. The Ortolani and Barlow tests must be performed by experienced clinicians to prevent fracture or other damage to the hip. Double or triple diapering is not recommended because it promotes hip extension, thus worsening the problem. Serial casting is recommended for clubfoot, not DDH.

When attempting to screen and educate parents regarding the treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), which intervention should the nurse perform? a. Be able to perform the Ortolani and Barlow tests. b. Teach double or triple diapering for added support. c. Explain to the parents the need for serial casting. d. Carefully monitor infants for DDH at follow-up visits.

D Preterm infants have greater surface area in proportion to their weight. More subcutaneous fat and well-developed muscles are indications of a more mature infant.

When evaluating the preterm infant, the nurse understands that compared with the term infant, what information is important for the nurse to understand? a. Few blood vessels visible through the skin b. More subcutaneous fat c. Well-developed flexor muscles d. Greater surface area in proportion to weight

D Documentation of a gavage feeding should include the size of the feeding tube, the amount and quality of the residual from the previous feeding, the type and quantity of the fluid instilled, and the infants response to the procedure. Abdominal circumference is not measured after a gavage feeding. Although vital signs may be obtained before feeding, the infants response to the feeding is more important. Similarly, some older infants may be learning to suck; the most important factor to document would still be the infants response to the feeding, including the attempts to suck.

When providing an infant with a gavage feeding, which infant assessment should be documented each time? a. Abdominal circumference after the feeding b. Heart rate and respirations before feeding c. Suck and swallow coordination d. Response to the feeding

D Crying and an increased heart rate are manifestations indicative of pain in the neonate. Typically, infants tightly close their eyes when in pain, not open them wide. In addition, infants may display a rigid posture with the mouth open and may also withdraw limbs and become tachycardic with pain. A high-pitched, shrill cry is associated with genetic or neurologic anomalies.

Which clinical findings would alert the nurse that the neonate is expressing pain? a. Low-pitched crying; tachycardia; eyelids open wide b. Cry face; flaccid limbs; closed mouth c. High-pitched, shrill cry; withdrawal; change in heart rate d. Cry face; eyes squeezed; increase in blood pressure

D Breathing in a respiratory pattern is called periodic breathing and is common to premature infants. This pattern may still require nursing intervention of oxygen and/or ventilation. Apnea is the cessation of respirations for 20 seconds or longer and should not be confused with periodic breathing.

Which condition might premature infants who exhibit 5 to 10 seconds of respiratory pauses, followed by 10 to 15 seconds of compensatory rapid respiration, be experiencing? a. Suffering from sleep or wakeful apnea b. Experiencing severe swings in blood pressure c. Trying to maintain a neutral thermal environment d. Breathing in a respiratory pattern common to premature infants

B Many couples have conflicting feelings about sexuality and future pregnancies. A little pain is always present, certainly beyond the first year when recovery begins to peak. Bittersweet grief describes the brief grief response that occurs with reminders of a loss, such as anniversary dates. Most couples never abandon these reminders. Recovery is ongoing. Typically, a couples search for meaning progresses from Why? in the acute phase to Why me? in the intense phase to What does this loss mean to my life? in the reorganizational phase

Which finding would indicate to the nurse that the grieving parents have progressed to the reorganization phase of grieving? a. The parents say that they feel no pain. b. The parents are discussing sex and a future pregnancy, even if they have not yet sorted out their feelings. c. The parents have abandoned those moments of bittersweet grief. d. The parents questions have progressed from Why? to Why us?

A If the mother is Rh negative and the father is Rh positive and homozygous for the Rh factor, then all the offspring of this union will be Rh positive. Only Rh-positive offspring of an Rh-negative mother are at risk for Rh incompatibility. Only the Rh-positive offspring of an Rh-negative mother are at risk. If the mother is Rh negative and the father is Rh positive and heterozygous for the factor, a 50% chance exists that each infant born of this union will be Rh positive, and a 50% chance exists that each will be born Rh negative. No risk for incompatibility exists if both the mother and the infant are Rh positive.

Which infant is most likely to express Rh incompatibility? a. Infant of an Rh-negative mother and a father who is Rh positive and homozygous for the Rh factor b. Infant who is Rh negative and a mother who is Rh negative c. Infant of an Rh-negative mother and a father who is Rh positive and heterozygous for the Rh factor d. Infant who is Rh positive and a mother who is Rh positive

ANS: A The neonate is at highest risk for hypoglycemia because fetal insulin production is accelerated during pregnancy to metabolize excessive glucose from the mother. At birth, the maternal glucose supply stops and the neonatal insulin exceeds the available glucose, thus leading to hypoglycemia. Hypocalcemia is associated with preterm birth, birth trauma, and asphyxia, all common problems of the infant of a diabetic mother. Excess erythrocytes are broken down after birth, and large amounts of bilirubin are released into the neonate's circulation, with resulting hyperbilirubinemia. Because fetal insulin production is accelerated during pregnancy, hyperinsulinemia develops in the neonate.

Which major neonatal complication is carefully monitored after the birth of the infant of a diabetic mother? a.Hypoglycemia b.Hypercalcemia c.Hypobilirubinemia d.Hypoinsulinemia

1, 4, 5 Explanation: 1. The nurse should anticipate that the family will experience the grieving process for the lost fetus. 4. The parents are faced with the sudden and unanticipated death of the unborn child, which occurred without any input or control on their part. 5. Spiritual distress is a common reaction of parents who experience an unanticipated loss

Which nursing diagnoses can apply to the couple experiencing a perinatal loss? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply. 1. Grieving related to the imminent loss of a child 2. Fear related to discomfort of labor and unknown outcome 3. Knowledge, Deficient related to lack of information about involution 4. Powerlessness related to lack of control in current situational crisis 5. Spiritual Distress, Risk for related to intense suffering secondary to unexpected fetal loss

D Herniation of the abdominal viscera into the thoracic cavity may cause severe respiratory distress and represent a neonatal emergency. Oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation, and the correction of acidosis are necessary in infants with large defects. Although imbalanced nutrition, related to less than body requirements, may be a factor in providing care to a newborn with a diaphragmatic hernia, the priority nursing diagnosis relates to the oxygenation issues arising from the lung hypoplasia that occurs with diaphragmatic hernia. The nutritional needs of this infant may be a clearly identified need; however, at this time the nurse should be most concerned about impaired gas exchange. This infant is at risk for infection, especially once the surgical repair has been performed. The extent of the herniation may have hindered normal development of the lungs in utero, resulting in respiratory distress.

Which nursing diagnosis is most appropriate for a newborn diagnosed with a diaphragmatic hernia? a. Risk for impaired parent-infant attachment b. Imbalanced nutrition, related to less than body requirements c. Risk for infection d. Impaired gas exchange

1, 3, 5 Explanation: 1. The couple with a known or suspected fetal demise should immediately be placed in a private room. When possible, the woman should be in a room that is farthest away from other laboring women. 3. The nurse should assist the couple in exploring their feelings and help them to make decisions about who will be present and what rituals will occur during and following the birth. 5. In a fetal demise, mementos are some of the few memories the parents have to provide them comfort after the death of their baby. Every effort should be made to offer as many quality mementos as possible, such as pictures and hand- or footprint molds and cards.

Which nursing interventions would be included in the plan of care for a family that has just been informed of a perinatal loss? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply. 1. Provide the parents with a private place and time to express their grief. 2. Offer reassurance that parents can have a subsequent successful pregnancy. 3. Allow the parents to participate in personal grief rituals. 4. Encourage interaction with other families. 5. Offer to give the family mementos of the infant such as footprints, crib card, and lock of hair.

3 Explanation: 3. Prolonged retention of the dead fetus may lead to the development of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), also called consumption coagulopathy, in the mother.

Which of the following may lead to the development of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), also called consumption coagulopathy, in the mother? 1. Hypertensive disorders 2. Abruptio placentae 3. Prolonged retention of the dead fetus 4. Heritable thrombophilias

C Mothers and fathers may find it helpful to see their infant after delivery. The parents wishes should be respected. Interventions and support from the nursing and medical staff after a prenatal loss are extremely important in the healing of the parents. The initial intervention should be directly related to the parents wishes concerning seeing or holding their dead infant. Although information about funeral home notification may be relevant, this information is not the most appropriate option at this time. Burial arrangements can be discussed after the infant is born.

Which options for saying good-bye would the nurse want to discuss with a woman who is diagnosed with having a stillborn girl? a. The nurse should not discuss any options at this time; plenty of time will be available after the baby is born. b. Would you like a picture taken of your baby after birth? c. When your baby is born, would you like to see and hold her? d. What funeral home do you want notified after the baby is born?

ANS: D Placental hormones, estrogen, progesterone, and human placental lactogen (HPL) create insulin resistance. Insulin is also broken down more quickly by the enzyme placental insulinase. Pancreatic functioning is not affected by pregnancy. The glucose requirements differ because of the growing fetus. The pregnant woman should increase her intake by 200 calories a day.

Which physiologic alteration of pregnancy most significantly affects glucose metabolism? a. Pancreatic function in the islets of Langerhans is affected by pregnancy. b. Pregnant women use glucose at a more rapid rate than nonpregnant women. c. Pregnant women significantly increase their dietary intake. d. Placental hormones are antagonistic to insulin, thus resulting in insulin resistance.

ANS: C A previous birth of a large infant suggests GDM. Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 or greater) creates a higher risk for gestational diabetes. A woman younger than 25 years is not generally at risk for GDM. The person with type 2 diabetes mellitus already has diabetes and thus will continue to have it after pregnancy. Insulin may be required during pregnancy because oral hypoglycemia drugs are contraindicated during pregnancy.

Which preexisting factor is known to increase the risk of GDM? a.Underweight before pregnancy b.Maternal age younger than 25 years c.Previous birth of large infant d.Previous diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus

A, B, C Risk factors for NEC include asphyxia, RDS, umbilical artery catheterization, exchange transfusion, early enteral feedings, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), congenital heart disease, polycythemia, anemia, shock, and gastrointestinal infection. Bronchopulmonary dysphasia and retinopathy are not associated with NEC.

Which risk factors are associated with NEC? (Select all that apply.) a. Polycythemia b. Anemia c. Congenital heart disease d. Bronchopulmonary dysphasia e. Retinopathy

ANS: A Prompt treatment of DKA is necessary to save the fetus and the mother. Hydramnios occurs 10 times more often in diabetic pregnancies. Infections are more common and more serious in pregnant women with diabetes. Mild-to-moderate hypoglycemic episodes do not appear to have significant effects on fetal well-being.

Which statement concerning the complication of maternal diabetes is the most accurate? a.Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) can lead to fetal death at any time during pregnancy. b.Hydramnios occurs approximately twice as often in diabetic pregnancies than in nondiabetic pregnancies. c.Infections occur about as often and are considered about as serious in both diabetic and nondiabetic pregnancies. d.Even mild-to-moderate hypoglycemic episodes can have significant effects on fetal well-being.

D Acknowledging the loss and being open to listening is the best action that the nurse can do. No bereaved parent would find the statement This has happened for the best to be comforting in any way, and it may sound judgmental. Nurses must resist the impulse to speak about the afterlife to people in pain. They should also resist the temptation to give advice or to use clichs. Unless the nurse has lost a child, he or she does not understand how the parents feel.

Which statement is the most appropriate for the nurse to make when caring for bereaved parents? a. This happened for the best. b. You have an angel in heaven. c. I know how you feel. d. What can I do for you?

A The cardiac and respiratory systems function together; therefore, initial findings will be related to respiratory illness. Screening for congenital respiratory system anomalies is necessary, even for infants who appear normal at birth. All newborns should have critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) screening performed before discharge. Choanal atresia requires emergency surgery. Congenital diaphragmatic hernias are prenatally discovered on ultrasound

Which statement regarding congenital anomalies of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems is correct? a. Cardiac disease may demonstrate signs and symptoms of respiratory illness. b. Screening for congenital anomalies of the respiratory system need only be performed for infants experiencing respiratory distress. c. Choanal atresia can be corrected with the use of a suction catheter to remove the blockage. d. Congenital diaphragmatic hernias are diagnosed and treated after birth.

ANS: C Hemoglobin Alc levels greater than 7% indicate an elevated glucose level during the previous 4 to 6 weeks. This extra laboratory test is for diabetic women and defines glycemic control over the previous 4 to 6 weeks. Glycosylated hemoglobin level tests are performed on the blood

Which statement regarding the laboratory test for glycosylated hemoglobin A1cc is correct? a. The laboratory test for glycosylated hemoglobin A1c is performed for all pregnant women, not only those with or likely to have diabetes. b. This laboratory test is a snapshot of glucose control at the moment. c. This laboratory test measures the levels of hemoglobin A1c, which should remain at less than 7%. d. This laboratory test is performed on the woman's urine, not her blood.

C High-risk infants can cause profound parental stress and emotional turmoil. Parents need support, special teaching, and quick access to various resources available to help them care for their baby. Parents and their high-risk infant should get to spend a night or two in a predischarge room, where care for the infant is provided away from the NICU. Simply because high-risk infants are eventually discharged does not mean they are normal, healthy babies. Follow-up by specialized practitioners is essential. Ideally, the mother and baby are transported with the fetus in utero; this reduces neonatal morbidity and mortality.

With regard to an eventual discharge of the high-risk newborn or the transfer of the newborn to a different facility, which information is essential to provide to the parents? a. Infants stay in the NICU until they are ready to go home. b. Once discharged to go home, the high-risk infant should be treated like any healthy term newborn. c. Parents of high-risk infants need special support and detailed contact information. d. If a high-risk infant and mother need to be transferred to a specialized regional center, then waiting until after the birth and until the infant is stabilized is best.