A nurse in a provider's office is caring for a 32-year-old female client who is pregnant.
Medical History:
The client is a Gravida 3 Para 2, at 32 weeks of gestation. She has a known allergy to penicillin. She is 5 feet 4 inches (163 cm) tall and weighs 178 lb (80.7 kg), with a BMI of 30.6. The client reports a 6 lb weight gain over the last 2 weeks. She has had a headache for 5 days, blurred vision, and dizziness, which Tylenol does not relieve. The client reports swelling of her feet and fingers. She has 2+ pitting edema of the lower extremities noted bilaterally, and swelling of the fingers and hands is noted. Deep tendon reflexes are 3+, absent clonus. Fetal heart tones (FHT) are 148/min.
Vital Signs:
0800:
Temperature: 36.6°C (97.9°F)
Pulse rate: 88/min
Respiratory rate: 20/min
Blood Pressure: 179/99 mm Hg
0815:
Pulse rate: 82/min
Respiratory rate: 16/min
Blood Pressure: 168/104 mm Hg
0830:
Pulse rate: 81/min
Respiratory rate: 16/min
Blood Pressure: 170/101 mm Hg
Querry: Which of the following assessment findings should the nurse report to the provider? (Select all that apply.)
Weight gain
Visual disturbances
Blood pressure
Respiratory rate
Deep tendon reflexes
Fetal heart rate
Correct Answer : A,B,E
Choice A rationale:
Rapid weight gain during pregnancy, especially when accompanied by other symptoms, can be a sign of preeclampsia. This condition is characterized by high blood pressure and often occurs after 20 weeks of gestation. Reporting rapid weight gain is important for early detection and management.
Choice B rationale:
Visual disturbances, such as blurred vision, can be a warning sign of preeclampsia. It indicates potential neurological involvement and requires immediate evaluation to prevent complications for both the mother and the fetus.
Choice C rationale:
Elevated blood pressure readings are a critical sign of preeclampsia, a condition that can lead to serious health complications for both the mother and the baby if left untreated. Reporting elevated blood pressure is essential for early intervention and management.
Choice D rationale:
While the respiratory rate is slightly elevated, it is not as critical an indicator of preeclampsia as the other findings. In this case, the focus should be on more concerning symptoms, such as blood pressure and visual disturbances.
Choice E rationale:
Hyperactive deep tendon reflexes (3+) are a clinical sign of preeclampsia. The absence of clonus is a reassuring sign, but the presence of hyperactive reflexes warrants further evaluation and monitoring.
Choice F rationale:
The fetal heart rate (FHT) of 148/min is within the normal range (110-160/min) and does not indicate an immediate concern that needs to be reported. The nurse should focus on the maternal symptoms that suggest preeclampsia.
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Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Decreased deep tendon reflexes are not typically associated with preeclampsia. In fact, hyperreflexia or increased deep tendon reflexes might be observed due to central nervous
system irritability in preeclampsia.
Choice B rationale
Uterine contractions are related to labor and not a specific indicator of preeclampsia. While they might occur simultaneously, they are not diagnostic of preeclampsia.
Choice C rationale
Proteinuria, the presence of excess protein in the urine, is a key diagnostic criterion for preeclampsia. It indicates kidney involvement and is used along with elevated blood pressure to diagnose this condition.
Choice D rationale
Increased blood glucose levels are associated with gestational diabetes rather than preeclampsia. Elevated blood pressure and proteinuria are the hallmarks of preeclampsia.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Accelerations are increases in the fetal heart rate (FHR) above the baseline, typically in response to fetal movement or uterine contractions. They indicate a healthy, well-oxygenated
fetus and are not consistent with the described pattern of decelerations.
Choice B rationale
Late decelerations are characterized by a gradual decrease in FHR that begins after the contraction has started, with the lowest point of the deceleration (nadir) occurring after the
peak of the contraction. They are associated with uteroplacental insufficiency and fetal hypoxia, which is not described in the scenario.
Choice C rationale
Early decelerations are a gradual decrease in FHR that mirrors the contraction, starting with the contraction and returning to baseline as the contraction ends. The nadir of the
deceleration occurs at the peak of the contraction, which fits the pattern described.
Choice D rationale
Variable decelerations are abrupt decreases in FHR that can occur at any time during the contraction cycle, usually due to umbilical cord compression. They are not uniform in
relation to contractions and can vary in duration, depth, and timing, unlike the described pattern.