A postpartum patient calls the clinic and reports to the nurse feelings of fatigue, tearfulness, and anxiety. What is the nurse's most appropriate response at this time?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Postpartum blues must be distinguished from postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis, which are disabling conditions and require therapeutic management for full recovery. Nurses need to assess the depression to ascertain if she is unable to cope with daily life. Postpartum blues are self-limiting and frequently occur by the fifth postpartum day and resolve in 2 weeks. The response "Sounds like postpartum depression" does not offer the patient any help or encouragement through this challenging time. Asking if she is getting enough sleep does not add to the assessments already identified in the stem. Enough information exists to determine that she has the signs and symptoms of postpartum blues. The nurse must differentiate between postpartum blues and depression.

A Postpartum Patient Calls the Clinic and Reports to the Nurse