When the nurse on duty accidentally bumps the bassinet, the neonate throws out its arms, hands opened, and begins to cry. The nurse interprets this reaction as indicative of which of the following reflexes?
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Solution
Startle reflex
The Moro, or startle, reflex occurs when the neonate responds to stimuli by extending the arms, hands open, and then moving the arms in an embracing motion. The Moro reflex, present at birth, disappears at about age 3 months.
The nurse plans to instruct the postpartum client about methods to prevent breast engorgement. Which of the following measures would the nurse include in the teaching plan?
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Solution
Breastfeeding the neonate at frequent intervals
Prevention of breast engorgement is key. The best technique is to empty the breast regularly with feeding. Engorgement is less likely when the mother and neonate are together, as in single room maternity care continuous rooming-in, because nursing can be done conveniently to meet the neonate’s and mother’s needs.
A pregnant client is diagnosed with partial placenta previa. In explaining the diagnosis, the nurse tells the client that the usual treatment for partial placenta previa is which of the following?
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Solution
Activity limited to bed rest
Treatment of partial placenta previa includes bed rest, hydration, and careful monitoring of the client’s bleeding.
Forty-eight hours after delivery, the nurse in charge plans discharge teaching for the client about infant care. By this time, the nurse expects that the phase of postpartum psychological adaptation that the client would be in would be termed which of the following?
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Solution
Taking hold
Beginning after completion of the taking-in phase, the taking-hold phase lasts about 10 days. During this phase, the client is concerned with her need to resume control of all facets of her life in a competent manner. At this time, she is ready to learn self-care and infant care skills.
The nurse is caring for a primigravida at about 2 months and 1-week gestation. After explaining self-care measures for common discomforts of pregnancy, the nurse determines that the client understands the instructions when she says:
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Solution
“Nausea and vomiting can be decreased if I eat a few crackers before arising”
Eating dry crackers before arising can assist in decreasing the common discomfort of nausea and vomiting. Avoiding strong food odors and eating a high-protein snack before bedtime can also help.
A primigravida in active labor is about 9 days post-term. The client desires a bilateral pudendal block anesthesia before delivery. After the nurse explains this type of anesthesia to the client, which of the following locations identified by the client as the area of relief would indicate to the nurse that the teaching was effective?
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Solution
Perineum
A bilateral pudendal block is used for vaginal deliveries to relieve pain primarily in the perineum and vagina. Pudendal block anesthesia is adequate for episiotomy and its repair.
When caring for a 3-day-old neonate who is receiving phototherapy to treat jaundice, the nurse in charge would expect to do which of the following?
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Solution
Check the vital signs every 2 to 4 hours
While caring for an infant receiving phototherapy for treatment of jaundice, vital signs are checked every 2 to 4 hours because hyperthermia can occur due to the phototherapy lights.
While the postpartum client is receiving heparin for thrombophlebitis, which of the following drugs would the nurse expect to administer if the client develops complications related to heparin therapy?
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Solution
Protamine sulfate
Protamine sulfate is a heparin antagonist given intravenously to counteract bleeding complications caused by heparin overdose.
A client at 36 weeks gestation is scheduled for a routine ultrasound prior to an amniocentesis. After teaching the client about the purpose for the ultrasound, which of the following client statements would indicate to the nurse in charge that the client needs further instruction?
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Solution
The ultrasound identifies blood flow through the umbilical cord
Before amniocentesis, a routine ultrasound is valuable in locating the placenta, locating a pool of amniotic fluid, and showing the physician where to insert the needle. Color Doppler imaging ultrasonography identifies blood flow through the umbilical cord. A routine ultrasound does not accomplish this.
A postpartum patient was in labor for 30 hours and had ruptured membranes for 24 hours. For which of the following would the nurse be alert?
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Solution
Endometritis
Endometritis is an infection of the uterine lining and can occur after prolonged rupture of membranes.
Option A: Endometriosis does not occur after a strong labor and prolonged rupture of membranes.
Option B: Salpingitis is a tubal infection and could occur if endometritis is not treated.
Option C: Pelvic thrombophlebitis involves a clot formation, but it is not a complication of prolonged rupture of membranes.