The nurse is assisting a multiparous woman to the bathroom for the first time since her delivery 3 hours ago. When the patient stands up, blood runs down her legs and pools on the floor. The patient turns pale and feels weak. The first action of the nurse is to:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Helping the patient back to bed to check her fundus is the first action the nurse should take. This is because the scenario described suggests postpartum hemorrhage, a common and serious complication after childbirth. The fundus (top of the uterus) should be firm to help control bleeding by compressing the blood vessels. Checking the fundus can help determine if uterine atony (lack of muscle tone) is the cause of the bleeding, which is a common reason for postpartum hemorrhage.

The Nurse Is Assisting a Multiparous Woman to the Bathroom