HESI RN
HESI Maternity Test Bank
1. Twenty minutes after a continuous epidural anesthetic is administered, a laboring client's blood pressure drops from 120/80 to 90/60. What action should the healthcare provider take?
- A. Notify the healthcare provider or anesthesiologist immediately.
- B. Continue to assess the blood pressure every 5 minutes.
- C. Place the woman in a lateral position.
- D. Turn off the continuous epidural.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Placing the woman in a lateral position is the appropriate action to improve venous return and cardiac output, helping to stabilize the blood pressure. This position can alleviate pressure on the inferior vena cava, reducing the risk of hypotension associated with epidural anesthesia. Turning off the continuous epidural would not be the initial action as it may not be necessary and could lead to inadequate pain relief for the client. Notifying the healthcare provider or anesthesiologist immediately is premature and should be done after attempting non-invasive interventions. Continuing to assess the blood pressure every 5 minutes is important, but placing the woman in a lateral position should be the first intervention to address the hypotension.
2. Using Nägele's rule, what is the estimated date of delivery for a pregnant client who reports that the first day of her last menstrual period was August 2, 2006?
- A. April 25, 2007.
- B. May 9, 2007.
- C. May 29, 2007.
- D. June 2, 2007.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Nägele's rule is used to estimate the date of delivery. It involves adding 7 days to the first day of the last menstrual period (August 2), which gives August 9. Then, subtracting 3 months from August 9, we arrive at May 9 of the following year as the estimated date of delivery. This makes choice B, 'May 9, 2007,' the correct answer. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect as they do not follow the correct calculation based on Nägele's rule.
3. A client in active labor is admitted with preeclampsia. Which assessment finding is most significant in planning this client's care?
- A. Patellar reflex 4+
- B. Blood pressure 158/80
- C. Four-hour urine output 240 ml
- D. Respirations 12/minute
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'Patellar reflex 4+'. Hyperreflexia is a sign of severe preeclampsia and increases the risk of seizures, indicating the need for immediate intervention. Monitoring and addressing this finding are crucial in managing the client's condition and preventing complications.
4. The nurse is caring for a client who experienced fetal demise at 32 weeks' gestation. After the fetus is delivered vaginally, the nurse implements fetal demise protocol and identification procedures. Which action is most important for the nurse to take?
- A. Create a memory box with the baby's footprint and photographs.
- B. Determine if the mother desires a visit from her clergy.
- C. Encourage the mother to hold and spend time with her baby.
- D. Explain the reasons for obtaining consent for an infant autopsy.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Encouraging the mother to hold and spend time with her baby is crucial after a fetal demise at 32 weeks' gestation. This action can support the mother in the grieving process, facilitate bonding, and provide closure, helping her cope with the loss of the baby. Creating a memory box with the baby's footprint and photographs could be emotionally comforting but not as immediate and impactful as encouraging direct physical contact. While offering a visit from her clergy may provide spiritual support, the immediate need is to address the physical and emotional aspects of the situation. Explaining the reasons for obtaining consent for an infant autopsy is important, but it is secondary to the immediate emotional support needed by the mother.
5. At 40-weeks gestation, a client presents to the obstetrical floor indicating that the amniotic membranes ruptured spontaneously at home. She is in active labor and feels the need to bear down and push. Which information is most important for the nurse to obtain?
- A. Color and consistency of fluid.
- B. Estimated amount of fluid.
- C. Any odor noted when membranes ruptured.
- D. Time the membranes ruptured.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The color and consistency of the amniotic fluid are crucial to assess for the presence of meconium, which may indicate fetal distress. Meconium-stained amniotic fluid can suggest fetal compromise and the need for further evaluation and monitoring. The estimated amount of fluid is less critical than assessing for meconium. While noting any odor when the membranes ruptured may provide some information, it is not as crucial as assessing for meconium. The time the membranes ruptured is important for documenting the timeline but does not directly impact immediate patient care like assessing for fetal distress.
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