Question 1

One of the most important components of the physical assessment of the pregnant client is the determination of blood pressure.Consistency in measurement techniques must be maintained to ensure that the nuances in variation of blood pressure (BP)readings are not the result of provider error.The nurse must be aware of which techniques are important in obtaining an accurate BP reading.Choose all that apply.

Accepted Answer

BP readings are easily affected by maternal position.Ideally the client should be seated.An alternative position is left lateral recumbent with the arm at the level of the heart.The arm should always be held in a horizontal position at approximately the level of the heart.The same arm should be used at every visit.The manual sphygmomanometer is the most accurate device.If manual as well as electronic devices are used in the care setting,the nurse must use caution when interpreting the readings.A proper size cuff should cover at least 80% of the upper arm or be approximately 1.5 times the length of the upper arm.

Question 2

A woman with preeclampsia has a seizure.The nurse's primary duty during the seizure is to:

Accepted Answer

If a client becomes eclamptic,the nurse should stay with the client and call for help.Nursing actions during a convulsion are directed toward ensuring a patent airway and client safety.Insertion of an oral airway during seizure activity is no longer the standard of care.The nurse should attempt to keep the airway patent by turning the client's head to the side to prevent aspiration.Once the seizure has ended,it may be necessary to suction the client's mouth.Oxygen is administered after the convulsion has ended.

Question 3

A woman at 39 weeks of gestation with a history of preeclampsia is admitted to the labor and birth unit.She suddenly experiences increased contraction frequency of every 1 to 2 minutes,dark red vaginal bleeding,and a tense,painful abdomen.The nurse suspects the onset of:

Accepted Answer

Uterine tenderness in the presence of increasing tone may be the earliest finding of abruptio placentae.Women with preeclampsia are at increased risk for an abruption due to decreased placental perfusion.Eclamptic seizures are evidenced by the presence of generalized tonic-clonic convulsions.Uterine rupture presents as hypotonic uterine activity,signs of hypovolemia and,in many cases,the absence of pain.Placenta previa presents with bright red,painless vaginal bleeding.

Question 4

A woman with worsening preeclampsia is admitted to the hospital's labor and birth unit.The physician explains the plan of care for severe preeclampsia,including the induction of labor,to the woman and her husband.The nurse determines that the couple needs further information when the woman's husband says:

Accepted Answer

Arranging a visit with their two children indicates that the husband does not understand the importance of the quiet,subdued environment that is needed to prevent his wife's condition from worsening.Implementing breathing techniques is indicative of adequate knowledge related to pain management during labor.Administering ice chips indicates an understanding of nutritional needs during labor.Staying with his wife during labor demonstrates the husband's support for his wife and is appropriate.

Question 5

Magnesium sulfate is given to women with preeclampsia and eclampsia to:

Accepted Answer

Magnesium sulfate is the drug of choice to prevent convulsions,although it can generate other problems.Loss of patellar reflexes and respiratory depression are signs of magnesium toxicity.Magnesium sulfate can increase the duration of labor.Women are at risk for a boggy uterus and heavy lochial flow as a result of magnesium sulfate therapy.

Question 6

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy contribute significantly to maternal and infant morbidity and mortality worldwide.Neonatal complications of hypertensive disorders in the mother include:

Accepted Answer

Neonatal complications are related to placental insufficiency and include IUGR,prematurity,and necrotizing enterocolitis.Seizures and cerebral hemorrhage are maternal complications.Hepatic and renal dysfunction are maternal complications of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.Placental abruption and DIC are conditions related to maternal morbidity and mortality.

Question 7

Nurses should be aware that chronic hypertension:

Accepted Answer

Women with chronic hypertension may develop superimposed preeclampsia,which increases the morbidity for both the mother and fetus.Chronic hypertension is present before pregnancy or diagnosed before the twentieth week of gestation and persists longer than 6 weeks postpartum.Chronic hypertension becomes severe with a diastolic BP of 110 mm Hg or higher.Proteinuria is an excessive concentration of protein in the urine.It is a complication of hypertension,not a defining characteristic.

Question 8

The antidote administered to reverse magnesium toxicity is ______________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The antidote administered to reverse magnesium toxicity...

Question 9

HELLP syndrome is associated with an increased risk for adverse perinatal outcomes,including (choose all that apply):

Accepted Answer

HELLP syndrome is associated with an increased risk for adverse perinatal outcomes,including placental abruption,acute renal failure,subcapsular hepatic hematoma,hepatic rupture,recurrent preeclampsia,preterm birth,and fetal and maternal death.HELLP syndrome is associated with an increased risk for placental abruption,not placenta previa.It is also associated with an increased risk for hepatic hematoma,not cirrhosis.

Question 10

Your client has been on magnesium sulfate for 20 hours for treatment of preeclampsia.She just delivered a viable infant girl 30 minutes ago.What uterine findings do you expect to observe or assess in this client?

Accepted Answer

High serum levels of magnesium can cause relaxation of smooth muscle such as the uterus.Because of this tocolytic effect,the client most likely will have a boggy uterus with increased amounts of bleeding.All women experience uterine bleeding in the postpartum period,especially those that have received magnesium therapy.Due to the tocolytic effects of magnesium sulfate,this client most likely will have a boggy uterus.Rather than scant lochial flow,this client will most likely have a heavy flow due to relaxation of the uterine wall caused by magnesium administration.

Question 11

What nursing diagnosis is the most appropriate for a woman experiencing severe preeclampsia?

Accepted Answer

Risk for injury is the most appropriate nursing diagnosis for this client scenario.Eclampsia is a medical,not a nursing,diagnosis.There is a risk for excess,not deficient,fluid volume related to increased sodium retention.There is a risk for decreased,not increased,cardiac output related to the use of antihypertensive drugs.

Question 12

Preeclampsia is a unique disease process related only to human pregnancy.The exact cause of this condition continues to elude researchers.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has developed a comprehensive list of risk factors associated with the development of preeclampsia.Which client exhibits the greatest number of these risk factors?

Accepted Answer

There are three risk factors present for the 19-year-old African-American client.She is of African-American ethnicity,is at the young end of the age distribution,and has a multiple pregnancy.In planning care for this client the nurse must monitor blood pressure frequently and teach the woman regarding early warning signs.The 30-year-old obese Caucasian client has only has one known risk factor: obesity.Age distribution appears to be U-shaped,with women less than 20 years and more than 40 years being at greatest risk.Preeclampsia continues to be seen more frequently in primigravidas;this client is a multigravida woman.Two risk factors are present for the 41-year-old Caucasian primigravida client.Her age and status as a primigravida put her at increased risk for preeclampsia.Caucasian women are at a lower risk than are African-American women.The 25-year-old Asian-American client exhibits only one risk factor.Pregnancies that result from donor insemination,oocyte donation,and embryo donation are at an increased risk of developing preeclampsia.

Question 13

Your client is being induced because of her worsening preeclampsia.She is also receiving magnesium sulfate.It appears that her labor has not become active despite several hours of oxytocin administration.She asks the nurse,"Why is it taking so long?" The most appropriate response by the nurse is:

Accepted Answer

Because magnesium sulfate is a tocolytic agent,its use may increase the duration of labor.The amount of oxytocin needed to stimulate labor may be more than that needed for the woman who is not receiving magnesium sulfate.The nurse should explain to the client the effects of magnesium sulfate on the duration of labor.Although the length of labor varies for different women,the most likely reason this woman's labor is protracted is the tocolytic effects of magnesium sulfate.The behavior of the fetus has no bearing on the length of labor.

Question 14

A primigravida is being monitored in her prenatal clinic for preeclampsia.What finding concerns her nurse?

Accepted Answer

Proteinuria is defined as a concentration of 1+ or greater via dipstick measurement.A dipstick value of 3+ alerts the nurse that additional testing or assessment should be made.Generally,hypertension is defined as a BP of 140/90 or an increase in systolic pressure of 30 mm Hg or 15 mm Hg diastolic pressure.Preeclampsia may be manifested as a rapid weight gain of more than 2 kg in 1 week.Edema occurs in many normal pregnancies as well as in women with preeclampsia.Therefore,the presence of edema is no longer considered diagnostic of preeclampsia.

Question 15

The labor of a pregnant woman with preeclampsia is going to be induced.Before initiating the oxytocin (Pitocin)infusion,the nurse reviews the woman's latest laboratory test findings,which reveal a platelet count of 90,000,an elevated aspartate transaminase (AST)level,and a falling hematocrit.The nurse notifies the physician because the lab results are indicative of:

Accepted Answer

HELLP syndrome is a laboratory diagnosis for a variant of severe preeclampsia that involves hepatic dysfunction characterized by hemolysis (H),elevated liver enzymes (EL),and low platelets (LP).Eclampsia is determined by the presence of seizures.DIC is a potential complication associated with HELLP syndrome.Idiopathic thrombocytopenia is the presence of low platelets of unknown cause and is not associated with preeclampsia.

Question 16

In planning care for women with severe gestational hypertension,nurses should be aware that:

Accepted Answer

By 34 weeks of gestation the risk of continuing the pregnancy may be considered greater than the risks of preterm birth.Strict bed rest is controversial for mild cases;some women in the hospital are even allowed to move around.Diet and fluid recommendations are much the same as for healthy pregnant women,although some authorities have suggested a diet high in protein.Women with severe gestational hypertension should expect a cesarean delivery.

Question 17

Women with mild gestational hypertension and mild preeclampsia can be safely managed at home with frequent maternal and fetal evaluation.Complete or partial bed rest is still frequently ordered by some providers.Which is not a complication of bed rest?

Accepted Answer

No evidence has been found that the practice of bed rest improves pregnancy outcome.Fluid retention is not an adverse outcome of prolonged bed rest.The woman is more likely to experience diuresis with accompanying fluid and electrolyte imbalance and weight loss.Prolonged bed rest is known to increase the risk for thrombophlebitis.Psychologic stress is known to begin on the first day of bed rest and continue for the duration of the therapy.Therefore,restricted activity,rather than complete bed rest is recommended.Cardiovascular deconditioning is a known complication of bed rest.

Question 18

A pregnant woman has been receiving a magnesium sulfate infusion for treatment of severe preeclampsia for 24 hours.On assessment the nurse finds the following vital signs: temperature 37.3° C,pulse rate 88 beats/min,respiratory rate 10 breaths/min,blood pressure (BP)148/90 mm Hg,absent deep tendon reflexes,and no ankle clonus.The client complains,"I'm so thirsty and warm." The nurse:

Accepted Answer

The client is displaying clinical signs and symptoms of magnesium toxicity.Magnesium should be discontinued immediately.Additionally,calcium gluconate,the antidote for magnesium,may be administered.Regardless of the magnesium level,the client is displaying clinical signs and symptoms of magnesium toxicity.The first action by the nurse should be to discontinue the infusion of magnesium sulfate.Hydralazine is an antihypertensive commonly used to treat hypertension in severe preeclampsia.Typically it is administered for a systolic BP greater than 160 mm Hg or a diastolic BP greater than 110 mm Hg.

Quiz 27: Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy