Pharmacologic Pain Management During Labor
Pharmacologic Pain Management During Labor ( 10 Questions)
A nurse is preparing to administer fentanyl to a client who is in labor and has severe pain.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take to prevent adverse effects on the fetus?
Administer the medication immediately after a contraction. This is because fentanyl can cross the placenta and cause respiratory depression in the fetus, so it should be given when the placental blood flow is lowest, which is right after a contraction.
administering the medication 5 minutes before the expected delivery time can expose the fetus to high levels of fentanyl and increase the risk of neonatal respiratory depression.
administering the medication with an antiemetic does not prevent adverse effects on the fetus, but only reduces the maternal side effects of nausea and vomiting.
administering the medication with a benzodiazepine can potentiate the sedative effects of fentanyl and cause more respiratory depression in both the mother and the fetus.
Administer the medication immediately after a contraction. This is because fentanyl can cross the placenta and cause respiratory depression in the fetus, so it should be given when the placental blood flow is lowest, which is right after a contraction.