A nurse is triaging four clients on the labor and delivery unit.
Which of the following actions should be a priority for nursing care?
Check the blood sugar of a gestational diabetic.
Assess the vaginal blood loss of a client who is recovering from a spontaneous abortion.
Assess the patellar reflexes of a client with pre-eclampsia without severe features.
Check the fetal heart rate of a client whose membranes just ruptured.
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A rationale
Checking blood sugar is important in gestational diabetes but isn't immediate priority in a triage setting compared to assessing urgent conditions that could harm the fetus or mother immediately.
Choice B rationale
Assessing vaginal blood loss post-abortion is crucial, but in the presence of ruptured membranes, fetal heart rate checks take precedence to ensure the fetus's immediate well-being.
Choice C rationale
Assessing patellar reflexes in pre-eclampsia management is significant, but immediate priority in labor and delivery triage goes to ensuring fetal safety after membrane rupture.
Choice D rationale
Checking the fetal heart rate after membrane rupture is a priority because it provides immediate information about the fetus's status and any potential complications like cord prolapse or distress.
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Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Checking blood sugar is important in gestational diabetes but isn't immediate priority in a triage setting compared to assessing urgent conditions that could harm the fetus or mother immediately.
Choice B rationale
Assessing vaginal blood loss post-abortion is crucial, but in the presence of ruptured membranes, fetal heart rate checks take precedence to ensure the fetus's immediate well-being.
Choice C rationale
Assessing patellar reflexes in pre-eclampsia management is significant, but immediate priority in labor and delivery triage goes to ensuring fetal safety after membrane rupture.
Choice D rationale
Checking the fetal heart rate after membrane rupture is a priority because it provides immediate information about the fetus's status and any potential complications like cord prolapse or distress.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Oxytocin is used to induce or augment labor, not typically used before an external version, which is a procedure to turn a breech baby to a head-down position.
Choice B rationale
Methylergonovine is used to prevent or control postpartum hemorrhage by inducing strong uterine contractions, not indicated before an external version.
Choice C rationale
Betamethasone is a corticosteroid used to accelerate fetal lung maturity in preterm labor, not required for an external version.
Choice D rationale
Terbutaline is a tocolytic agent used to relax the uterus, making it easier to manipulate the fetus during the external version procedure.