Maternity - Intrapartum NCLEX question Exam 2

The purpose of a vaginal examination is to specifically assess the status of which findings? Select all that apply. 1. Station 2. Dilation 3. Effacement 4. Bloody show 5. Contraction effort

1. Station 2. Dilation 3. Effacement

The nurse is caring for a client in active labor. Which nursing intervention would be the best method to prevent fetal heart rate decelerations? 1. Prepare the client for a cesarean delivery. 2. Monitor the fetal heart rate every 30 minutes. 3. Encourage an upright or side-lying maternal position. 4. Increase the rate of the oxytocin (Pitocin) infusion every 10 minutes.

3. Encourage an upright or side-lying maternal position.

A nurse is monitoring a client in labor whose membranes ruptured spontaneously. What is the initial nursing action? 1. Determine the fetal heart rate. 2. Provide peripads for the client. 3. Take the client's blood pressure. 4. Note the amount, color, and odor of the amniotic fluid.

1. Determine the fetal heart rate.

The nurse is reviewing the health care provider's HCP's) prescriptions for a client admitted for premature rupture of the membranes. Gestational age of the fetus is determined to be 37 weeks. Which prescription should the nurse question? 1. Monitor fetal heart rate continuously. 2. Monitor maternal vital signs frequently. 3. Perform a vaginal examination every shift. 4. Administer ampicillin 1 g as an intravenous piggyback every 6 hours.

3. Perform a vaginal examination every shift.

The nurse has been working with a laboring client and notes that she has been pushing effectively for 1 hour. What is the client's primary physiological need at this time? 1. Ambulation 2. Rest between contractions 3. Change positions frequently 4. Consume oral food and fluids

2. Rest between contractions

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

1. Provide pain relief measures.

A prenatal client with severe abdominal pain is admitted to the maternity unit. The nurse is monitoring the client closely because concealed bleeding is suspected. Which assessment finding would indicate the presence of concealed bleeding? 1. Back pain 2. Heavy vaginal bleeding 3. Increase in fundal height 4. Early deceleration on the fetal heart monitor

3. Increase in fundal height Rationale: The signs of concealed abdominal bleeding in a pregnant client include an increase in fundal height, hard board-like abdomen, persistent abdominal pain, late decelerations in fetal heart rate, or decreasing baseline variability.

The labor room nurse assists with the administration of a lumbar epidural block. How should the nurse check for the major side effect associated with this type of regional anesthesia? 1. Assessing the mother's reflexes 2. Taking the mother's temperature 3. Taking the mother's apical pulse 4. Monitoring the mother's blood pressure

4. Monitoring the mother's blood pressure Rationale: A major side effect of regional anesthesia is hypotension, which results from vasodilation in the lower body and a reduction in venous return. After regional anesthesia, the blood pressure is taken every 1 to 2 minutes for 15 minutes and then every 10 to 15 minutes.

A nurse is monitoring a client who is in the active phase of labor. The client has been experiencing contractions that are short, irregular, and weak. Which type of labor dystocia should the nurse document that the client is experiencing? 1. Hypotonic 2. Precipitate 3. Hypertonic 4. Preterm labor

1. Hypotonic Rationale: Hypotonic labor contractions are short, irregular, weak, and usually occur during the active phase of labor. Precipitate labor is that which lasts in its entirety for 3 hours or less. Hypertonic dysfunction usually occurs during the latent phase of labor. Preterm labor is the onset of labor after 20 weeks of gestation and before the beginning of the 38th week of gestation

The nurse is caring for a client in labor and prepares to auscultate the fetal heart rate by using a Doppler ultrasound device. Which action should the nurse take to determine fetal heart sounds accurately? 1. Noting whether the heart rate is greater than 140 beats/min 2. Placing the diaphragm of the Doppler on the mother's abdomen 3. Palpating the maternal radial pulse while listening to the fetal heart rate 4. Performing Leopold's maneuver first to determine the location of the fetal heart

3. Palpating the maternal radial pulse while listening to the fetal heart rate

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

2. A fetal heart rate of 90 beats/min

The nurse is caring for a client who is receiving oxytocin (Pitocin) for induction of labor and notes a nonreassuring fetal heart rate (FHR) pattern on the fetal monitor. On the basis of this finding, the nurse should take which action first? 1. Stop the oxytocin infusion. 2. Check the client's blood pressure. 3. Check the client for bladder distention. 4. Place the client in a side-lying position.

1. Stop the oxytocin infusion.

A client in labor is receiving oxytocin (Pitocin) by intravenous infusion to stimulate uterine contractions. Which finding indicates that the rate of the infusion needs to be decreased? 1. Increased urinary output 2. A fetal heart rate of 180 beats/min 3. Three contractions occurring in a 10-minute period 4. Adequate resting tone of the uterus palpated between contractions

2. A fetal heart rate of 180 beats/min

The nurse prepares a plan of care for the client with preeclampsia and documents that if the client progresses from preeclampsia to eclampsia, the nurse should take which first action? 1. Administer oxygen by face mask. 2. Clear and maintain an open airway. 3. Administer magnesium sulfate intravenously. 4. Assess the blood pressure and fetal heart rate.

2. Clear and maintain an open airway. Rationale: The first action during a seizure (eclampsia) is to ensure a patent airway. All other options are actions that follow administer oxygen by face mask, administer magnesium sulfate intravenously, asses the blood pressure and fetal heart rate

The goal for a woman with partial premature separation of the placenta is, "The woman will not exhibit signs of fetal distress." Which outcome, documented by the nurse, would indicate that this goal has been achieved? 1. No accelerations of FHR 2. Short-term variability present 3. Variable decelerations present 4. Fetal heart rate (FHR) of 170 to 180 beats/min

2. Short-term variability present

The nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing a precipitous labor and is waiting for the health care provider to arrive. When the infant's head crowns, what instruction should the nurse give the client? 1. Bear down. 2. Hold her breath. 3. Breathe rapidly. 4. Push with each contraction.

3. Breathe rapidly.

The nurse in the labor room is caring for a client in the active stage of the first phase of labor. The nurse is assessing the fetal patterns and notes a late deceleration on the monitor strip. What is the most appropriate nursing action? 1. Administer oxygen via face mask. 2. Place the mother in a supine position. 3. Increase the rate of the oxytocin (Pitocin) intravenous infusion. 4. Document the findings and continue to monitor the fetal patterns.

1. Administer oxygen via face mask. Rationale: Late decelerations are due to uteroplacental insufficiency and occur because of decreased blood flow and oxygen to the fetus during the uterine contractions. Hypoxemia results; oxygen at 8 to 10 L/minute via face mask is necessary. The supine position is avoided because it decreases uterine blood flow to the fetus. The client should be turned onto her side to displace pressure of the gravid uterus on the inferior vena cava. An intravenous oxytocin infusion is discontinued when a late deceleration is noted. The oxytocin would cause further hypoxemia because of increased uteroplacental insufficiency resulting from stimulation of contractions by this medication. Although the nurse would document the occurrence, option 4 would delay necessary treatment.

A nurse has collected the following data on a client in labor. The fetal heart rate (FHR) is 154 beats/min and is regular; and contractions have moderate intensity, occur every 5 minutes and have a duration of 35 seconds. Using this information, what is the most appropriate action for the nurse to take? 1. Prepare for imminent delivery. 2. Continue to monitor the client. 3. Report the findings to the obstetrician. 4. Report the FHR to the anesthesiologist on call.

2. Continue to monitor the client. Rationale: The data collected by the nurse are within normal limits and require no further action on the part of the nurse other than continued monitoring. The FHR is normally 120 to 160 beats/min. Signs of potential complications of labor include contractions consistently lasting 90 seconds or longer; contractions consistently occurring 2 minutes or less apart; fetal bradycardia, tachycardia, or persistently decreased variability; and irregular FHR

The nurse is assisting a client undergoing induction of labor at 41 weeks' gestation. The client's contractions are moderate and occurring every 2 to 3 minutes, with a duration of 60 seconds. An internal fetal heart rate monitor is in place. The baseline fetal heart rate has been 120 to 122 beats/minute for the past hour. What is the priority nursing action? 1.Notify the health care provider. 2. Discontinue the infusion of oxytocin (Pitocin). 3. Place oxygen on at 8 to 10 L/minute via face mask. 4. Contact the client's primary support person(s) if not currently present.

2. Discontinue the infusion of oxytocin (Piton). Rationale: The priority nursing action is to stop the infusion of oxytocin. Oxytocin can cause forceful uterine contractions and decrease oxygenation to the placenta, resulting in decreased variability. After stopping the oxytocin, the nurse should reposition the laboring mother. Applying oxygen, increasing the rate of the intravenous (IV) fluid (the solution without the oxytocin), and notifying the health care provider are also actions that are indicated in this situation. Contacting the client's primary support person(s) is not the priority action at this time.

A nurse is assisting in the care of a client in labor who is having an amniotomy performed. The nurse should assess that the amniotic fluid is normal if it has which characteristics? 1. Clear and dark amber color 2. Light green color with no odor 3. Thick white color with no odor 4. Straw-colored, with flecks of vernix

4. Straw-colored, with fleck of vernix Rationale: Amniotic fluid is normally a pale straw color and may contain flecks of vernix caseosa. It should have a thin watery consistency and may have a mild odor. The other options are not descriptions of normal amniotic fluid

The nurse in the labor room is caring for a client in the active stage of the first phase of labor. The nurse is assessing the fetal patterns and notes a late deceleration on the monitor strip. What is the most appropriate nursing action? 1. Administer oxygen via face mask. 2. Place the mother in a supine position. 3. Increase the rate of the oxytocin (Pitocin) intravenous infusion. 4. Document the findings and continue to monitor the fetal patterns.

1. Administer oxygen via face mask. Rationale: Late decelerations are caused by uteroplacental insufficiency as a result of decreased blood flow and oxygen to the fetus during the uterine contractions. This causes hypoxemia; therefore oxygen is necessary. The supine position is avoided because it decreases uterine blood flow to the fetus. The client should be turned onto her side to displace pressure of the gravid uterus on the inferior vena cava. An IV oxytocin infusion is discontinued when a late deceleration is noted; otherwise the oxytocin would cause further hypoxemia because of increased uteroplacental insufficiency caused by stimulation of contractions caused by the oxytocin. Option 4 would delay necessary treatment

A nurse assists the health care provider to perform an amniotomy on a client in labor. Which is the priority nursing action after this procedure? 1. Assess the fetal heart rate. 2. Check the client's temperature. 3. Change the pads under the client. 4. Check the client's respiratory rate.

1. Assess the fetal heart rate. Rationale: After amniotomy or rupture of the membranes in the birth setting, the nurse immediately assesses the fetal heart rate for at least 1 minute to detect changes associated with prolapse or compression of the umbilical cord. The quantity, color, and odor of the amniotic fluid also are noted. The client's temperature should be assessed every 2 to 4 hours, and the nurse also would check the client's vital signs. The pads under the client should be changed regularly to promote comfort and reduce the moist environment that favors bacterial growth, but this is not the priority

An ultrasound is performed on a client with suspected abruptio placentae, and the results indicate that a placental abruption is present. Which intervention should the nurse prepare the client for? 1. Delivery of the fetus 2. Strict monitoring of intake and output 3. Complete bed rest for the remainder of the pregnancy 4. The need for weekly monitoring o

1. Delivery of the fetus Rationale: The goal of management in abruptio placentae is to control the hemorrhage and deliver the fetus as soon as possible. Because delivery of the fetus is necessary, the remaining options are incorrect regarding management of the client with abruptio placentae.

The nurse is caring for a client during the second stage of labor. On assessment, the nurse notes a slowing of the fetal heart rate and a loss of variability. Which is the initial nursing action? 1. Turn the client onto her side and give oxygen by face mask at 8 to 10 L/min. 2. Turn the client onto her back and give oxygen by face mask at 8 to 10 L/min. 3. Turn the client onto her side and give oxygen by nasal cannula at 2 to 4 L/min. 4. Turn the client onto her back and give oxygen by nasal cannula at 2 to 4 L/min.

1. Turn the client onto her side and give oxygen by face mask at 8 to 10 L/min. Rationale: If a fetal heart rate begins to slow or a loss of variability is observed, this could indicate fetal distress. To promote adequate oxygenation for the mother and her fetus, the mother is turned to her side, which reduces the pressure of the uterus on the ascending vena cava and descending aorta. Oxygen by face mask at 8 to 10 L/min is applied to the mother.

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

1. monitoring fetal status Rationale: The priority in the plan of care would include the intervention that addresses the physiological integrity of the fetus. Although providing comfort measures, changing the client's position frequently, and keeping the significant other informed of the progress of the labor are components of the plan of care, fetal status is the priority.

After the spontaneous rupture of a laboring woman's membranes, the fetal heart rate drops to 85 beats/minute. Which should be the nurse's priority action? 1. Reposition the laboring woman to knee-chest. 2. Assess the vagina and cervix with a gloved hand. 3. Notify the health care provider of the need for an amnioinfusion. 4. Document the description of the fetal bradycardia in the nursing notes.

2. Assess the vagina and cervix with a gloved hand. Rationale: It is most common to see an umbilical cord prolapsed directly after the rupture of membranes, when gravity washes the cord in front of the presenting part. A cord prolapse can be evidenced by fetal bradycardia with variable decelerations occurring with uterine contractions. Because the fetal heart rate became bradycardic immediately following the spontaneous rupture of the client's membranes, the nurse's initial action would be to glove the examining hand and insert two fingers into the vagina to assess for the presence of a prolapsed cord and then to relieve compression of the cord by exerting upward pressure on the presenting part. Repositioning the woman to a knee-chest position is a correct intervention for prolapsed cord, but confirmation of the prolapsed cord and relieving compression is the first intervention that should be implemented so therefore option 1 can be eliminated. An amnioinfusion may be used to minimize the effects of cord compression in utero, not a prolapsed cord, so option 3 can be eliminated. Although documentation of this occurrence is important, it is not the priority in this situation, so option 4 can also be eliminated.

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

2. Place the client in Trendelenburg's position. Rationale: When cord prolapse occurs, prompt actions are taken to relieve cord compression and increase fetal oxygenation. The mother should be positioned with her hips higher than her 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 health care provider and notify the delivery room. If the cord is protruding from the vagina, no attempt should be made to replace it because that could traumatize it and further reduce blood flow. Oxygen at 8 to 10 L/min by face mask is administered to the mother to increase fetal oxygenation.

A nurse is monitoring a client with dysfunctional labor for signs of fetal or maternal compromise. Which finding should alert the nurse to a compromise? 1. Maternal fatigue 2. The passage of meconium 3. Coordinated uterine contractions 4. Progressive changes in the cervix

2. The passage of meconium

The nurse explains the purpose of effleurage to a client in early labor. Which statement should the nurse include in the explanation? 1. "It is the application of pressure to the sacrum to relieve a backache." 2. "It is a form of biofeedback to enhance bearing- down efforts during delivery." 3. "It is light stroking of the abdomen to facilitate relaxation during labor and provide tactile stimulation to the fetus." 4. "It is performed to stimulate uterine activity by contracting a specific muscle group while other parts of the body rest."

3. "It is light stroking of the abdomen to facilitate relaxation during labor and provide tactile stimulation to the fetus."

A nurse is preparing to care for a client in labor. The health care provider has prescribed an intravenous (IV) infusion of oxytocin (Pitocin). The nurse should ensure that which is implemented before the beginning of the infusion? 1. An IV infusion of antibiotics 2. Placing the client on complete bed rest 3. Continuous electronic fetal monitoring 4. Placing a code cart at the client's bedside

3. Continuous electronic fetal monitoring Rationale: Continuous electronic fetal monitoring should be implemented during an IV infusion of oxytocin (Pitocin). There are no data in the question that indicate the need for complete bed rest or the need for antibiotics. It is not necessary to place a code cart at the bedside of a client receiving an oxytocin infusion.

A nurse assists in the vaginal delivery of a newborn. Following the delivery, the nurse observes the umbilical cord lengthen and a spurt of blood from the vagina. The nurse should document these observations as signs of which condition? 1. Hematoma 2. Uterine atony 3. Placenta previa 4. Placental separation

4. Placental separation

The nurse is developing a plan of care for a pregnant client with a diagnosis of severe preeclampsia. Which nursing actions should be included in the care plan for this client? Select all that apply. 1. Keep the room semi-dark. 2. Initiate seizure precautions. 3. Pad the side rails of the bed. 4. Avoid environmental stimulation. 5.Allow out-of-bed activity as tolerated.

1. Keep the room semi-dark. 2. Initiate seizure precautions. 3. Pad the side rails of the bed. 4. Avoid environmental stimulation.

A woman in active labor has requested a regional anesthetic. She is currently 5 cm dilated. The health care provider (HCP) has prescribed an epidural block. Which nursing intervention would be implemented after the epidural block has been placed? 1. Palpate the bladder at frequent intervals. 2. Encourage the woman to walk to progress the labor. 3. Assess the blood pressure frequently for hypertension. 4. Encourage the woman to assume a supine position after the epidural has been placed.

1. Palpate the bladder at frequent intervals.

The 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 beats/minute. Which nursing action is most appropriate? 1. Notify the health care provider (HCP). 2. Continue monitoring the fetal heart rate. 3. Encourage the client to continue pushing with each contraction. 4. Instruct the client's coach to continue to encourage breathing techniques.

1. Notify the health care provider (HCP). Rationale: A normal fetal heart rate is 110 to 160 beats/minute, and the fetal heart rate should be within this range between contractions. Fetal bradycardia between contractions may indicate the need for immediate medical management, and the HCP or nurse-midwife needs to be notified

A nurse is collecting data from a pregnant client in the second trimester of pregnancy who was admitted to the maternity unit with a suspected diagnosis of abruptio placentae. Which findings are associated with abruptio placentae? Select all that apply.

Uterine tenderness Acute abdominal pain A hard, "board-like" abdomen Increased uterine resting tone on fetal monitoring Rationale: In abruptio placentae, acute abdominal pain is present. Uterine tenderness accompanies placental abruption, especially with a central abruption and trapped blood behind the placenta. The abdomen will feel hard and board-like 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 placental abruption. Painless, bright red vaginal bleeding in the second or third trimester of pregnancy is a sign of placenta previa