Chapter 19: Nursing Management of Pregnancy at Risk: Pregnancy-Related Complications
The nurse is caring for a pregnant client with severe preeclampsia. Which nursing intervention should a nurse perform to institute and maintain seizure precautions in this client?
Keep the suction equipment readily available.
A client with preeclampsia is receiving magnesium sulfate to suppress or control seizures. Which nursing intervention should a nurse perform to determine the effectiveness of therapy?
Assess deep tendon reflexes.
A woman at 10 weeks' gestation comes to the clinic for an evaluation. Which assessment finding should the nurse prioritize?
fundal heigh measurement of 18 cm
The nurse is teaching a client who is diagnosed with preeclampsia how to monitor her condition. The nurse determines the client needs more instruction after making which statement?
"If I have changes in my vision, I will lie down and rest."
A client with a history of cervical insufficiency is seen for reports of pink-tinged discharge and pelvic pressure. The primary care provider decides to perform a cervical cerclage. The nurse teaches the client about the procedure. Which client response indicates that the teaching has been effective?
"Purse-string sutures are placed in the cervix to prevent it from dilating."
A client in her first trimester arrives at the emergency room with reports of severe cramping and vaginal spotting. On examination, the health care provider informs her that no fetal heart sounds are evident and orders a dilatation and curettage (D&C). The client looks frightened and confused and states that she does not believe in induced abortion (medical abortion). Which statement by the nurse is best?
"Unfortunately, the pregnancy is already lost. The procedure is to clear the uterus to prevent further complications."
A nurse has been assigned to assess a pregnant client for placental abruption (abruptio placentae). For which classic manifestation of this condition should the nurse assess?
"knife-like" abdominal pain with vaginal bleeding
A nurse is monitoring the serum drug level of a pregnant client with preeclampsia who is receiving a continuous infusion of magnesium sulfate. For which level would the nurse continue the infusion?
6.8 mg/100ml
An 18-year-old pregnant client is hospitalized as she recovers from hyperemesis gravidarum. The client reveals she wanted to have an abortion (elective termination of pregnancy) but her cultural background forbids it. She is very unhappy about being pregnant and even expresses a wish for a miscarriage. Which action by the nurse is most appropriate?
Contact the health care provider to report the client's feelings.
A nurse is caring for a young woman who is in her 10th week of gestation. She comes into the clinic reporting vaginal bleeding. Which assessment finding best correlates with a diagnosis of hydatidiform mole?
Dark red, "clumpy" vaginal discharge
A woman who is 10 weeks' pregnant calls the physician's office reporting "morning sickness" but, when asked about it, tells the nurse that she is nauseated and vomiting all the time and has lost 5 pounds. What interventions would the nurse anticipate for this client?
Lab work will be drawn to rule out acid-base imbalances.
The nurse is caring for a pregnant client with fallopian tube rupture. Which intervention is the priority for this client?
Monitor the client's vital signs and bleeding.
The following hourly assessments are obtained by the nurse on a client with preeclampsia receiving magnesium sulfate: 97.3oF (36.2oC), HR 88, RR 12 breaths/min, BP 148/110 mm Hg. What other priority physical assessments by the nurse should be implemented to assess for potential toxicity?
Placenta previa is an abnormally implanted placenta that is too close to the cervix.
A client at 27 weeks' gestation is admitted to the obstetric unit after reporting headaches and edema of her hands. Review of the prenatal notes reveals blood pressure consistently above 136/90 mm Hg. The nurse anticipates the health care provider will prescribe magnesium sulfate to accomplish which primary goal?
Prevent maternal seizures
A client reporting she recently had a positive pregnancy test has reported to the emergency department stating one-sided lower abdominal pain. The health care provider has prescribed a series of tests. Which test will provide the most definitive confirmation of an ectopic pregnancy?
abdominal ultrasound
A pregnant woman is admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of placenta previa. Which action would be the priority for this woman on admission?
assessing fetal heart tones by use of an external monitor
A pregnant client with multiple gestation arrives at the maternity clinic for a regular antenatal check up. The nurse would be aware that client is at risk for which perinatal complication?
congenital anomalies
A pregnant client is hospitalized because of preeclampsia. Magnesium sulfate is ordered to prevent eclampsia. When preparing to administer the magnesium sulfate, the nurse would ensure that which medication would be readily available?
calcium gluconate
The nurse is comforting and listening to a young couple who just suffered a spontaneous abortion (miscarriage). When asked why this happened, which reason should the nurse share as a common cause?
chromosomal abnormality
A woman in her 20s has experienced a spontaneous abortion (miscarriage) at 10 weeks' gestation and asks the nurse at the hospital what went wrong. She is concerned that she did something that caused her to lose her baby. The nurse can reassure the woman by explaining that the most common cause of miscarriage in the first trimester is related to which factor?
chromosomal defects in the fetus
A woman at 8 weeks' gestation is admitted for ectopic pregnancy. She is asking why this has occurred. The nurse knows that which factor is a known risk factor for ectopic pregnancy?
history of endometriosis
A woman at 9 weeks' gestation was unable to control the nausea and vomiting of hyperemesis gravidarum through conservative measures at home. With nausea and vomiting becoming severe, the woman was omitted to the obstetrical unit. Which action should the nurse prioritize?
establish IV for rehydration
The nurse is appraising the medical record of a pregnant client who is resting in a darkened room and receiving oxytocin and magnesium sulfate. The nurse will continue to monitor this client for progression to which condition?
eclampsia
A nurse is conducting a refresher program for a group of perinatal nurses. Part of the program involves a discussion of HELLP. The nurse determines that the group needs additional teaching when they identify which aspect as a part of HELLP?
elevated lipoproteins
A pregnant woman is diagnosed with placental abruption (abruptio placentae). When reviewing the woman's physical assessment in her medical record, which finding would the nurse expect?
firm, rigid uterus on palpation
The nurse is assessing a client at 12 weeks' gestation at a routine prenatal visit who reports something doesn't feel right. Which assessment findings should the nurse prioritize?
gestational hypertension, hyperemesis gravidarum, absence of FHR
A client in her 20th week of gestation develops HELLP syndrome. What are features of HELLP syndrome? Select all that apply.
hemolysis elevated liver enzymes low platelet count
A nurse is providing care to a client who has been diagnosed with a common benign form of gestational trophoblastic disease. The nurse identifies this as:
hydatidiform mole.
Some women experience a rupture of their membranes before going into true labor. A nurse recognizes that a client who presents with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) has completed how many weeks of gestation?
less than 37 weeks
Which medication will the nurse anticipate the health care provider will prescribe as treatment for an unruptured ectopic pregnancy?
methotrexate
A 28-year-old primigravida client with type 2 diabetes comes to the health care clinic for a routine first trimester visit reporting frequent episodes of fasting blood glucose levels being lower than normal, but glucose levels after meals being higher than normal. What should the nurse point out that these episodes are most likely related to?
normal response to the pregnancy
A pregnant client with preeclampsia is to receive magnesium sulfate IV. Which assessment should the nurse prioritize before administering a new dose?
patellar reflex
A 24-year-old client presents in labor. The nurse notes there is an order to administer Rho(D) immune globulin after the birth of her infant. When asked by the client the reason for this injection, which reason should the nurse point out?
prevent maternal D antibody formation.
A pregnant client is brought to the health care facility with signs of premature rupture of the membranes (PROM). Which conditions and complications are associated with PROM? Select all that apply.
prolapsed cord placental abruption (abruptio placentae) preterm labor
The following hourly assessments are obtained by the nurse on a client with preeclampsia receiving magnesium sulfate: 97.3oF (36.2oC), HR 88, RR 12 breaths/min, BP 148/110 mm Hg. What other priority physical assessments by the nurse should be implemented to assess for potential toxicity?
reflexes
A client at 37 weeks' gestation presents to the emergency department with a BP 150/108 mm Hg, 1+ pedal edema, 1+ proteinuria, and normal deep tendon reflexes. Which assessment should the nurse prioritize as the client is administered magnesium sulfate IV?
respiratory rate
A woman at 12 weeks' gestation comes to the clinic with vaginal bleeding. When assessing the woman further, the nurse would suspect a threatened abortion based on which finding?
slight vaginal bleeding
A 44-year-old client has lost several pregnancies over the last 10 years. For the past 3 months, she has had fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. She visits the clinic and takes a pregnancy test; the results are positive. Physical examination confirms a uterus enlarged to 13 weeks' gestation; fetal heart tones are heard. Ultrasound reveals that the client is experiencing some bleeding. Considering the client's prenatal history and age, what does the nurse recognize as the greatest risk for the client at this time?
spontaneous abortion (miscarriage)
A pregnant woman has arrived to the office reporting vaginal bleeding. Which finding during the assessment would lead the nurse to suspect an inevitable spontaneous abortion (miscarriage)?
strong abdominal cramping
A client at 32 weeks' gestation is admitted with acute abdominal pain. She is diagnosed with placental abruption (abruptio placentae). The nurse documents the above assessment. Which intervention is the priority in the management of this client?
transfusion of blood
A pregnant client diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum is prescribed intravenous fluids for rehydration. When preparing to administer this therapy, which solution would the nurse anticipate being prescribed initially?
normal saline
A woman at 28 weeks' gestation has been hospitalized with moderate bleeding that is now stabilizing. The nurse performs a routine assessment and notes the client sleeping, lying on the back, and electronic fetal heart rate (FHR) monitor showing gradually increasing baseline with late decelerations. Which action will the nurse perform first?
Reposition the client to left side.
A primigravida 28-year-old client is noted to have Rh negative blood and her husband is noted to be Rh positive. The nurse should prepare to administer RhoGAM after which diagnostic procedure?
Amniocentesis
A client at 25 weeks' gestation presents with a blood pressure of 152/99 mm Hg, pulse 78 beats/min, no edema, and urine negative for protein. What would the nurse do next?
Notify the health care provider.
