A laboring patient has received an order for epidural anesthesia. In order to prevent the most common complication associated with this procedure, the nurse would expect to do which of the following?

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The most common complication associated with epidural anesthesia is hypotension, which can be prevented by administering intravenous fluids prior to the procedure. Therefore, the nurse would expect to rapidly infuse 500-1,000 ml of intravenous fluids. Observing fetal heart rate variability, placing the patient in semi-Fowler's position, and teaching the patient appropriate breathing techniques are not directly related to preventing complications associated with epidural anesthesia.

A Laboring Patient Has Received an Order for Epidural Anesthesia