A 20-year-old gravida 1, para 0 woman, is evaluated to be at 42 weeks' gestation on admission to the labor and birth unit. The patient is not in labor at the current time; however, she has been sent over by the physician to be admitted for the induction of labor. The patient indicates to you that she would rather go home and wait for natural labor to start. How should the nurse respond to the patient's request?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The most serious concern related to a postdate pregnancy is that of fetal compromise based on the fact that the placenta function deteriorates. Although one can appreciate that the patient wants to have a natural labor experience, some women do not go into labor for various physiologic reasons. Therefore it is best for the patient to remain in a supervised clinical setting. Indicating that the patient could possibly go home would place the patient at risk and the nurse at risk for practicing outside of his or her scope of practice. Even though there can be a difference in the calculated due date, it is highly unlikely that the pregnancy has gone longer than 42 weeks.

A 20-Year-Old Gravida 1, Para 0 Woman, Is Evaluated to Be