A nurse is caring for a 28-year-old female client who is gravida 1 para 0 at 32 weeks of gestation in the prenatal unit.
Exhibit 1: History and PhysicalThe client is a 28-year-old female, gravida 1 para 0 at 32 weeks of gestation. She reports cramping and low back pain that started about 3 hours ago, with pain rated 2 on a scale of 0 to 10. She believes the contractions feel stronger than Braxton Hicks and expresses concern that it's too early for labor pains. The client mentions a small amount of urinary leakage earlier in the day, but no vaginal bleeding. She decided to come in for evaluation upon her doctor's advice.Exhibit 2: Nurses' NotesAt 0900, the client stated that she began experiencing cramping and low back pain approximately 3 hours ago, rating the pain as 2 out of 10. She described the contractions as stronger than Braxton Hicks but believed they were not labor pains. She also mentioned experiencing a small amount of urinary leakage earlier in the day, with no vaginal bleeding reported. The external fetal monitor indicated contractions every 5 minutes, lasting 30 seconds each, with moderate intensity upon palpation. Fetal heart rate was recorded at 140 beats per minute. A vaginal exam revealed a closed cervix that was 80% effaced, with clear mucus discharge observed on the exam glove.Exhibit 3: Vital SignsBlood Pressure: 120/80 mmHgHeart Rate: 80 bpmRespiratory Rate: 18 breaths/minTemperature: 98.6°F (37°C)Oxygen Saturation: 98%Exhibit 4: Physical Examination ResultsUpon physical examination, the client appeared anxious but was otherwise in stable condition. Her abdomen was soft and non-tender, with no signs of rigidity. Fetal movements were noted to be active. The client had no edema in her extremities, and her reflexes were normal. Auscultation of the lungs revealed clear breath sounds bilaterally. Cardiovascular examination showed a regular heart rhythm without any murmurs. The nurse is providing teaching about tocolytic medication. Which of the following statements should the nurse include? Select all that apply.
"I will inject this medication under your skin."
"You may experience a headache after receiving this medication."
"It is common for this medication to make you feel jittery."
"This medication should decrease your contractions."
Correct Answer : B,C,D,E,F
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.
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View Related questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Meconium stools are common in newborns and not a concern in the context of weight loss.
Choice B rationale
Depressed fontanels can indicate dehydration in a newborn, which is critical, especially with significant weight loss.
Choice C rationale
Rust-stained urine is often due to urate crystals and is typical in newborns, not specifically alarming.
Choice D rationale
Overlapping suture lines can be a normal finding in a newborn's head and not indicative of an acute problem relating to weight loss.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
A respiratory rate of 12/min indicates that the respiratory depression caused by magnesium sulfate toxicity has been effectively reversed by calcium gluconate. Normal respiratory rate in adults is 12-20 breaths per minute.
Choice B rationale
Absent deep tendon reflexes indicate ongoing magnesium sulfate toxicity. Calcium gluconate administration should restore normal reflexes, not cause their absence.
Choice C rationale
Slurred speech is a sign of magnesium sulfate toxicity. Effective treatment with calcium gluconate should improve neurological function and resolve symptoms like slurred speech.
Choice D rationale
A urine output of 22 mL/hr is below the normal range and suggests renal impairment or ongoing toxicity. Effective treatment should result in an increase in urine output to within the normal range (greater than 30 mL/hr).