Risk Factors
Risk Factors ( 5 Questions)
A nurse is caring for a client who is 36 weeks pregnant and has severe preeclampsia.
The client reports having a severe headache and blurred vision.
The nurse should recognize that these symptoms indicate which of the following complications?
Pulmonary edema is wrong because it would cause shortness of breath, coughing and chest pain, not headache and blurred vision.
Cerebral edema. This is because severe headache and blurred vision are signs of increased intracranial pressure due to swelling of the brain, which can occur in severe preeclampsia. Cerebral edema is a serious complication that can lead to seizures, stroke or death.
Placental abruption is wrong because it would cause abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding and uterine tenderness, not headache and blurred vision.
Hepatic rupture is wrong because it would cause epigastric or right upper quadrant pain, nausea and vomiting, not headache and blurred vision. Hepatic rupture is also a rare complication of preeclampsia.
Cerebral edema. This is because severe headache and blurred vision are signs of increased intracranial pressure due to swelling of the brain, which can occur in severe preeclampsia. Cerebral edema is a serious complication that can lead to seizures, stroke or death.
Choice A. Pulmonary edema is wrong because it would cause shortness of breath, coughing and chest pain, not headache and blurred vision.
Choice C. Placental abruption is wrong because it would cause abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding and uterine tenderness, not headache and blurred vision.
Choice D. Hepatic rupture is wrong because it would cause epigastric or right upper quadrant pain, nausea and vomiting, not headache and blurred vision. Hepatic rupture is also a rare complication of preeclampsia.