The nurse admits a woman in labor after a motor vehicle accident that also involved her 14-month-old child.Fetal monitoring shows a nonreassuring fetal heart rate pattern with variable and late decelerations.Maternal examination reveals uterine tenderness and constant abdominal pain.After notifying the provider,which is the nurse's priority of care?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The priority intervention in this scenario is to initiate an IV access with an 18-gauge catheter. The nonreassuring fetal heart rate pattern and uterine tenderness suggest that the fetus may be experiencing hypoxia, and the provider may need to administer medications or fluids to improve fetal oxygenation. Therefore, an IV access is critical to allow for the delivery of such interventions. Encouraging the patient to begin pushing, obtaining a precipitous delivery pack, and cleansing the perineum are all important interventions but they are not the priority in this scenario.

The Nurse Admits a Woman in Labor After a Motor