A nurse is assessing a client who has placenta previa and is receiving fetal monitoring.
Which of the following clinical findings should the nurse expect?
Variable decelerations.
Painless vaginal bleeding.
Rigid abdomen.
Uterine tachysystole.
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A rationale
Variable decelerations are associated with umbilical cord compression, not placenta previa. In placenta previa, the placenta covers the cervical os, but it does not typically cause
variable decelerations on fetal monitoring.
Choice B rationale
Painless vaginal bleeding is a hallmark sign of placenta previa. This occurs because the placenta is located near or over the cervical os, leading to bleeding when the cervix dilates
or effaces.
Choice C rationale
A rigid abdomen is more indicative of placental abruption, where the placenta detaches prematurely from the uterine wall, causing pain and a tense abdomen, not typically seen in
placenta previa.
Choice D rationale
Uterine tachysystole is characterized by excessive uterine contractions and is not a clinical finding related to placenta previa. Tachysystole often results from excessive oxytocin use
or other uterine stimulants.
Free Nursing Test Bank
- Free Pharmacology Quiz 1
- Free Medical-Surgical Quiz 2
- Free Fundamentals Quiz 3
- Free Maternal-Newborn Quiz 4
- Free Anatomy and Physiology Quiz 5
- Free Obstetrics and Pediatrics Quiz 6
- Free Fluid and Electrolytes Quiz 7
- Free Community Health Quiz 8
- Free Promoting Health across the Lifespan Quiz 9
- Free Multidimensional Care Quiz 10
View Related questions
Correct Answer is ["B","C","D","E","F"]
Explanation
A. "I will inject this medication under your skin.": Tocolytic medications are typically administered orally, intravenously, or intramuscularly, not subcutaneously.
B. "You may experience a headache after receiving this medication."
Some tocolytic medications can cause headaches as a side effect.
C. "It is common for this medication to make you feel jittery."
Tocolytic medications, such as terbutaline, can cause nervousness or jitteriness.
D. "This medication should decrease your contractions."
The primary purpose of tocolytic medication is to decrease uterine contractions and delay preterm labor.
E. "I'll check your reflexes frequently while you are receiving this medication."
Some tocolytic medications, like magnesium sulfate, require monitoring of deep tendon reflexes to assess for potential toxicity.
F. "This medication can make your heart beat faster."
Tocolytic medications, such as terbutaline, can increase heart rate.
G. "This medication can increase your blood pressure.":
Some tocolytic medications, like magnesium sulfate, can actually lower blood pressure rather than increase it.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Elevated BUN levels (25 mg/dL) can indicate kidney dysfunction, dehydration, or high protein intake. However, it’s not directly related to a prenatal complication, though it still
requires monitoring.
Choice B rationale
Hemoglobin (Hgb) of 10.2 mg/dL is below the normal range (11 to 16 mg/dL) and can indicate anemia. During pregnancy, anemia can lead to serious complications such as preterm
birth and low birth weight, making this result significant.
Choice C rationale
A fasting blood glucose level of 70 mg/dL falls within the normal range (70 to 110 mg/dL) and does not indicate a complication. Thus, it is not concerning in the context of prenatal
complications.
Choice D rationale
Hematocrit (Hct) of 32% is slightly below the normal range (33 to 47%), which can be common in pregnancy due to increased plasma volume. While monitoring is required, it’s not as
critical as anemia.