Nursing Elites

1. The healthcare provider is preparing to administer magnesium sulfate to a laboring client whose blood pressure has increased from 110/60 mmHg to 140/90 mmHg. Which action is the highest priority?

• A. Provide a quiet environment with subdued lighting.
• B. Have calcium gluconate immediately available.
• C. Assess deep tendon reflexes (DTRs) every 4 hours.
• D. Insert a Foley catheter with a urimeter to monitor hourly output.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Having calcium gluconate readily available is crucial when administering magnesium sulfate, as it serves as the antidote in case of magnesium toxicity. Magnesium sulfate can lead to respiratory depression and cardiac arrest in cases of overdose or toxicity, making the prompt availability of calcium gluconate essential for immediate administration to counteract these effects. Providing a quiet environment with subdued lighting may be beneficial for the client's comfort but is not the highest priority in this situation. Assessing deep tendon reflexes every 4 hours is important when administering magnesium sulfate, but it is not the highest priority compared to having calcium gluconate available. Inserting a Foley catheter with a urimeter to monitor hourly output is not the highest priority when preparing to administer magnesium sulfate in this scenario.

2. Client teaching is an important part of the maternity nurse's role. Which factor has the greatest influence on successful teaching of the gravid client?

• A. The client's readiness to learn.
• B. The client's educational background.
• C. The order in which the information is presented.
• D. The extent to which the pregnancy was planned.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The client's readiness to learn is the most critical factor influencing successful teaching of the gravid client. When a client is receptive and motivated to learn, they are more likely to engage with the information provided, leading to better understanding and retention.

3. The LPN/LVN is providing discharge teaching for a client who is 24 hours postpartum. The nurse explains to the client that her vaginal discharge will change from red to pink and then to white. The client asks, 'What if I start having red bleeding after it changes?' What should the nurse instruct the client to do?

• A. Reduce activity level and notify the healthcare provider.
• B. Go to bed and assume a knee-chest position.
• C. Massage the uterus and go to the emergency room.
• D. Do not worry as this is a normal occurrence.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: If the client experiences a return to red bleeding after transitioning to pink and white, it may indicate possible complications like hemorrhage or retained placental fragments. Instructing the client to reduce activity level and promptly notify the healthcare provider is crucial for timely evaluation and management of these potentially serious postpartum complications. Choice B is incorrect as assuming a knee-chest position is not the appropriate action for red bleeding postpartum. Choice C is incorrect as massaging the uterus without professional assessment can be dangerous. Choice D is incorrect because red bleeding after transitioning is not normal and should be evaluated promptly.

4. The nurse is assessing a newborn who was precipitously delivered at 38 weeks' gestation. The newborn is tremulous, tachycardic, and hypertensive. Which assessment action is most important for the nurse to take?

• A. Perform a gestational age assessment.
• B. Obtain a drug screen for cocaine.
• C. Determine reactivity of neonatal reflexes.
• D. Weigh and measure the newborn.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is to obtain a drug screen for cocaine. Tremulousness, tachycardia, and hypertension in a newborn can be signs of neonatal abstinence syndrome, often caused by maternal drug use, such as cocaine. Identifying maternal drug use is crucial for appropriate management and treatment of the newborn.

5. An expectant father tells the LPN/LVN he fears that his wife 'is losing her mind.' He states she is constantly rubbing her abdomen and talking to the baby, and that she actually reprimands the baby when it moves too much. What recommendation should the nurse make to this expectant father?

• A. Reassure him that these are normal reactions to pregnancy and suggest that he discuss his concerns with the childbirth education nurse.
• B. Help him understand that his wife is experiencing normal maternal behaviors and bonding with the baby, and reassure him that these actions are positive.
• C. Ask him to observe his wife's behavior carefully for the next few weeks and report any similar behavior to the nurse at the next prenatal visit.
• D. Let him know that these behaviors are part of normal maternal-fetal bonding which occur once the mother feels fetal movement.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The father's concerns about his wife's behaviors can be addressed by explaining that behaviors like talking to the baby and responding to fetal movements are part of normal maternal-fetal bonding. These actions indicate that the mother is connecting with the baby and are positive signs of a healthy pregnancy. The nurse should reassure the father that these behaviors are common and beneficial for the mother-baby relationship during pregnancy.

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