A pregnant woman in her third trimester presents to the emergency department after fainting upon rising from a supine position.Which activity should the nurse perform first?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Supine hypotension is caused by the pressure of the enlarging uterus on the inferior vena cava while the woman is in a supine position.Vena caval compression impedes venous blood flow,reduces the amount of blood in the heart,and decreases cardiac output,causing dizziness and syncope.Pathological causes of supine hypotension include cardiac or respiratory disorders,anemia,hypoglycemia,dehydration,anxiety,and stress.Hypoglycemia can be treated rapidly if that is the cause.The other actions are appropriate as well,but the priority action would be to identify a condition that is readily treatable.

A Pregnant Woman in Her Third Trimester Presents to the Emergency