A pregnant client asks the nurse to explain what a teratogen is.What is the best response by the nurse to educate this client?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A teratogen is any substance that can cause harm to a developing fetus or embryo. This includes a wide range of substances such as certain medications, chemicals, infectious agents, and even some environmental factors. Controlled substances, nonnarcotic pain relievers, and medications for bacterial infections are not inherently teratogenic unless they specifically have properties or effects that can cause developmental harm to a fetus.

A Pregnant Client Asks the Nurse to Explain What a Teratogen