Assessment
Assessment ( 15 Questions)
A nurse is caring for a client in pre-term labor.
Which intervention should the nurse prioritize to improve blood flow to the placenta and fetus?
Administering intravenous fluids does not improve blood flow to the placenta and fetus. It may also increase the risk of pulmonary edema in women with preterm labor.
Tocolytics are drugs that inhibit uterine contractions and can delay preterm labor for a short time. This can allow time for the administration of antenatal corticosteroids and transfer to a tertiary care facility if necessary.
Administering corticosteroids does not improve blood flow to the placenta and fetus. Corticosteroids are given to enhance fetal lung maturity and reduce the risk of neonatal complications such as respiratory distress syndrome, intracranial hemorrhage, and necrotizing enterocolitis.
However, they do not stop preterm labor.
Providing emotional support does not improve blood flow to the placenta and fetus. Emotional support is important for women with preterm labor, but it is not a priority intervention to prevent fetal hypoxia or acidosis.
The correct answer is choice B. Administering tocolytics. Tocolytics are drugs that inhibit uterine contractions and can delay preterm labor for a short time. This can allow time for the administration of antenatal corticosteroids and transfer to a tertiary care facility if necessary.
Choice A is wrong because administering intravenous fluids does not improve blood flow to the placenta and fetus. It may also increase the risk of pulmonary edema in women with preterm labor.
Choice C is wrong because administering corticosteroids does not improve blood flow to the placenta and fetus. Corticosteroids are given to enhance fetal lung maturity and reduce the risk of neonatal complications such as respiratory distress syndrome, intracranial hemorrhage, and necrotizing enterocolitis.
However, they do not stop preterm labor.
Choice D is wrong because providing emotional support does not improve blood flow to the placenta and fetus. Emotional support is important for women with preterm labor, but it is not a priority intervention to prevent fetal hypoxia or acidosis.