Deck 10: The Expectant Family: Needs and Care

Question 1

A pregnant client who swims 3 to 5 times per week asks the nurse if she should stop this activity. What is the appropriate nursing response?
1) "You should discontinue your exercise program immediately."
2) "You should increase the number of times you swim per week."
3) "You should decrease the number of times you swim per week."
4) "You should continue your exercise program because it would be beneficial."

Answer 1

4

Question 2

A 32-year-old primipara who is at 8 weeks' gestation asks if she should expect any breathing changes as the pregnancy progresses. How should the nurse respond?
1) "By the third trimester, you will no longer feel as though you're short of breath."
2) "You may experience shortness of breath due to stretching of the round ligament."
3) "If you develop shortness of breath, it should improve in the last few weeks of your pregnancy, as lightening occurs."
4) "Shortness of breath is an abnormal finding during any stage of pregnancy, and it is considered a serious complication."

Answer 2

3

Question 3

The nurse is teaching a couple pregnant for the first time. Which statement made by the couple about prenatal classes indicates that additional information is necessary?
1) "Facilitate better communication between both partners."
2) "Eliminate the risk of needing a vacuum extraction or cesarean birth."
3) "Help parents cope with the discomforts and unknowns of childbirth."
4) "Encourage participants to write a list of their requests for labor and birth."

Answer 3

2

Question 4

A pregnant client asks what kinds of medications cause birth defects. Which statement would best answer this question?
1) "Almost all medications will cause birth defects in the first trimester."
2) "To be safe, do not take any medication without talking to your doctor."
3) "Too much vitamin C is one of the most common issues but is avoidable."
4) "Birth defects are very rare. Do not worry; your healthcare provider will watch for problems."

Question 5

The nurse is preparing a class for expectant fathers. Which information should the nurse include?
1) Siblings adjust readily to the new baby.
2) Sexual activity is safe for normal pregnancy.
3) The expectant mother decides the feeding method.
4) Fathers are expected to be involved in labor and birth.

Question 6

The nurse is teaching an early pregnancy class for clients in the first trimester of pregnancy. Which statement requires immediate intervention by the nurse?
1) "When my nausea is bad, I will drink some ginger tea."
2) "It is normal for my vaginal discharge to get green colored."
3) "I will urinate less often during the middle of my pregnancy."
4) "The fatigue I am experiencing will improve in the second trimester."

Question 7

The community nurse is providing prenatal care to a client in the home who has been unable to receive traditional prenatal care. Which barriers should the nurse consider when caring for this client? Select all that apply.
1) Location of healthcare facilities
2) View that prenatal care is insignificant
3) Lack of transportation to healthcare facilities
4) Appointment schedule conflicting with work hours
5) Lack of support to care for other children while attending prenatal appointments

Question 8

A client in the third trimester of pregnancy reports frequent leg cramps. What strategy would be most appropriate for the nurse to suggest?
1) Limit activity for several days.
2) Flex the foot to stretch the calf.
3) Point the toes of the affected leg.
4) Increase intake of protein-rich foods.

Question 9

A pregnant client in the 21st week of pregnancy is planning a vacation with family and asks which method of travel she should use. How should the nurse respond?
1) "Travel by bus."
2) "Fly on an airplane."
3) "Take an automobile."
4) "Do not travel this late in the pregnancy."

Question 10

The nurse is explaining the importance of fetal activity assessment to a pregnant client. What should the nurse do to best reinforce the significance of fetal kick monitoring?
1) Perform daily phone calls to the client at work or home.
2) Ask the client to remember to count the fetal movements.
3) Explain the reason for counting fetal movement to the client.
4) Review the client's written record of fetal movement at each visit.

Question 11

The nurse is preparing materials for couples beginning prenatal care. What information is most important for the nurse to include?
1) The birthing unit was remodeled and redecorated last year.
2) Some of the healthcare providers recommend circumcision for baby boys.
3) There are various types of healthcare providers to support the client through the process.
4) There are different types of rooms for giving birth, each with different equipment.

Question 12

The spouse accompanies a pregnant client to a prenatal visit. Which question should the nurse use to determine the amount of anticipatory guidance the spouse will need?
1) "What kind of work do you do?"
2) "How moody has your wife been lately?"
3) "What furniture have you gotten for the baby?"
4) "How are you feeling about becoming a father?"

Question 13

A 23-year-old client who is at 10 weeks' gestation with a first pregnancy expresses worry over feeling no sexual desire for her spouse and asks if this is normal. How should the nurse respond?
1) "That's unusual. Throughout a healthy pregnancy, sexual desire usually increases with each trimester."
2) "That's unusual. Usually, there are minimal changes in sexual desire throughout a healthy pregnancy."
3) "That sounds normal. In many cases, sexual desire decreases in the first trimester, but it increases again during the second trimester."
4) "That sounds normal. During the first trimester, sexual desire often decreases; however, by the third trimester, sexual desire is usually greater than before pregnancy."

Question 14

A client in the first trimester of pregnancy is experiencing nausea. What should the nurse suggest the client do to relieve the nausea?
1) Eat spicy foods.
2) Eat small, frequent meals.
3) Avoid carbonated beverages.
4) Wait to eat for 2 hours in the morning.

Question 15

A client in the third trimester of pregnancy reports working 8 hours a day as a cashier and stands when at work. What response by the nurse is the most appropriate?
1) "No problem. Your baby will be fine."
2) "Do you get regular breaks for eating?"
3) "Your risk of preterm labor is higher."
4) "Standing might increase ankle swelling."

Question 16

The nurse is assisting an expectant couple in developing a birth plan. Which instructions should the nurse include when teaching about this plan?
1) It is a communication tool between the client and the healthcare provider.
2) It is a legally binding contract between the client and the healthcare provider.
3) It allows the client to make choices about the birth process; however, these choices cannot be altered.
4) It includes only client choices and does not take into account standard choices of the healthcare provider.

Question 17

A client who is at 10 weeks' gestation is concerned about the amount of saliva that is in her mouth since she seems to be spitting when she talks. How should the nurse respond?
1) "You should avoid astringent mouthwashes and chewing gum."
2) "That's called ptyalism, and it's usually caused by increased salt intake during the second trimester."
3) "Excess salivation commonly occurs during the first trimester, although the cause is unknown."
4) "Let's schedule you for a doctor's appointment, because excessive salivation can signal a complication of pregnancy."

Question 18

An expectant couple is determining their compatibility with a healthcare provider. Which question should the nurse encourage the couple to ask first?
1) "Can my children attend the birth?"
2) "What is your philosophy of birth?"
3) "If I have a cesarean birth, can my husband attend?"
4) "What percentage of your clients have episiotomies?"

Question 19

A pregnant couple would like their 5-year-old to attend the birth. Which should the nurse say in response to this couple's plan?
1) "Bring some toys to keep your child occupied."
2) "Children under 12 are not allowed to be present at the birth."
3) "You should let your child stay home because you will be focusing on the birth."
4) "You should bring someone who will only tend to any specific needs of your child."

Question 20

Upon arriving at the prenatal clinic in the morning, the nurse receives messages from four clients. Which client complaint should be addressed first?
1) Primipara at 24 weeks' gestation with ankle edema
2) Multipara at 35 weeks' gestation with new onset of hemorrhoids
3) Primipara at 9 weeks' gestation with increased fatigue and nocturia
4) Multipara at 30 weeks' gestation with vaginal bleeding after performing yoga

Question 21

The nurse is preparing teaching for a pregnant client with a history of preterm labor. What information should the nurse specifically provide regarding sexual activity? Select all that apply.
1) Avoid intercourse.
2) Avoid nipple stimulation.
3) Avoid intercourse if vaginal bleeding occurs.
4) Avoid intercourse after the membranes rupture.
5) There are no restrictions to intercourse during pregnancy.

Question 22

The nurse is evaluating the effectiveness of prenatal education provided to the spouse of a pregnant client. Which observations indicate that this education was effective? Select all that apply.
1) Client is relaxed.
2) Client and spouse are arguing.
3) Spouse is looking forward to the birth.
4) Spouse expresses fear of being a father.
5) Client is following prenatal recommendations.

Question 23

The nurse is preparing to perform an initial prenatal assessment of a pregnant client who recently immigrated to the United States. Which cultural aspects should the nurse include during the assessment of this client? Select all that apply.
1) Birth rituals
2) Nutritional practices
3) Use of home remedies
4) Expectations to return to work
5) Beliefs about exercise and activity

Question 24

A client in the second trimester of pregnancy is experiencing severe heartburn. What should the nurse explain about the reasons for this health problem? Select all that apply.
1) Decreased gastrointestinal motility
2) Changes in carbohydrate metabolism
3) Increased production of progesterone
4) Relaxation of the esophageal sphincter
5) Displacement of the stomach by the enlarging uterus