Causes and risk factors
Causes and risk factors ( 9 Questions)
A nurse is caring for a client who is in active labor and has a history of two previous cesarean deliveries.
The nurse notes that the client’s fetal heart rate is dropping and the client reports severe abdominal pain.
The nurse suspects that the client has a ruptured uterus.
What is the priority action for the nurse to take?
Notify the provider and prepare for an emergency cesarean delivery. This is because a ruptured uterus is a life-threatening complication that requires immediate surgical intervention to save the mother and the fetus.
The nurse should also monitor the vital signs and fetal heart rate of the client and administer oxygen and IV fluids as needed.
It is not enough to manage a ruptured uterus.
Oxygen and IV fluids can help improve oxygenation and perfusion, but they do not stop the bleeding or repair the uterine wall.
It is not appropriate for a client with a ruptured uterus. A knee-chest position and a fetal scalp electrode are used for clients with cord prolapse, which is when the umbilical cord slips through the cervix before the fetus.
It can worsen the condition of a client with a ruptured uterus. A vaginal exam can increase the risk of infection, bleeding, and further damage to the uterine wall.
Notify the provider and prepare for an emergency cesarean delivery. This is because a ruptured uterus is a life-threatening complication that requires immediate surgical intervention to save the mother and the fetus.
The nurse should also monitor the vital signs and fetal heart rate of the client and administer oxygen and IV fluids as needed.