Fetal Complications
Fetal Complications ( 5 Questions)
A nurse is preparing to administer an IV infusion of magnesium sulfate to a client who is 38 weeks pregnant and has eclampsia.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
This ensures that the client receives the correct dose of magnesium sulfate and prevents overdose or underdose. Magnesium sulfate is given as a loading dose of 4 g in normal saline solution, followed by a maintenance infusion of 1 to 2 g/h by controlled infusion pump.
However using an infusion pump is not enough to ensure safe administration of magnesium sulfate.
The nurse should also monitor the client’s vital signs, urine output, and serum magnesium level regularly.
This is a way to assess the client’s neuromuscular status and detect signs of magnesium toxicity, such as hyporeflexia or areflexia. Magnesium sulfate can cause muscle weakness and respiratory depression if the serum level is too high.
However monitoring the client’s deep tendon reflexes is not enough to prevent or treat eclamptic seizures.
The nurse should also observe the client for signs of headache, visual disturbances, epigastric pain, or altered mental status.
This is the antidote for magnesium toxicity and should be given if the client develops signs of respiratory depression, cardiac arrhythmias, or loss of consciousness. Calcium gluconate is given as 10 mL of 10% solution IV push over 3 to 5 minutes.
However keeping calcium gluconate available is not enough to prevent complications of magnesium sulfate therapy.
The nurse should also be prepared to manage air supply.
The nurse should take all of the following actions when administering an IV infusion of magnesium sulfate to a client who has eclampsia:
All of the above.
The nurse should take all of the following actions when administering an IV infusion of magnesium sulfate to a client who has eclampsia:
• Use an infusion pump to regulate the flow rate.
This ensures that the client receives the correct dose of magnesium sulfate and prevents overdose or underdose. Magnesium sulfate is given as a loading dose of 4 g in normal saline solution, followed by a maintenance infusion of 1 to 2 g/h by controlled infusion pump.
• Monitor the client’s deep tendon reflexes hourly.
This is a way to assess the client’s neuromuscular status and detect signs of magnesium toxicity, such as hyporeflexia or areflexia. Magnesium sulfate can cause muscle weakness and respiratory depression if the serum level is too high.
• Keep calcium gluconate readily available.
This is the antidote for magnesium toxicity and should be given if the client develops signs of respiratory depression, cardiac arrhythmias, or loss of consciousness. Calcium gluconate is given as 10 mL of 10% solution IV push over 3 to 5 minutes.
Choice A is wrong because using an infusion pump is not enough to ensure safe administration of magnesium sulfate.
The nurse should also monitor the client’s vital signs, urine output, and serum magnesium level regularly.
Choice B is wrong because monitoring the client’s deep tendon reflexes is not enough to prevent or treat eclamptic seizures.
The nurse should also observe the client for signs of headache, visual disturbances, epigastric pain, or altered mental status.
Choice C is wrong because keeping calcium gluconate available is not enough to prevent complications of magnesium sulfate therapy.
The nurse should also be prepared to manage air circulation.