The nurse is caring for a postpartum client who had an estimated blood loss of 500 mL following a vaginal birth.What is the best clinical measure of the client's actual blood loss?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A decrease in the hematocrit of 10 points between the time of admission and the time of postbirth is the best clinical measure of actual blood loss. Hematocrit is one of the key measures of blood loss and indicates the proportion of red blood cells in the blood. A decrease in the hematocrit of 10 points suggests significant blood loss. Clinical estimation of blood loss can be imprecise, and the amount of saturation of linens may not be a reliable measure since it can vary based on the material used for the linens. Blood pressure and pulse changes can indicate hypovolemia, but they do not provide an accurate measure of blood loss.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Postpartum Client Who Had