Author Question: At the peak of a contraction, meconium-stained fluid gushes from a client's vagina. The nurse should ... (Read 204 times)

cherise1989 · **on:** Jun 27, 2018

At the peak of a contraction, meconium-stained fluid gushes from a client's vagina. The nurse should immediately

a. call the physician c. check the fetal heart rate
b. change the bedding d. position the client on her right side

Question 2

In which situation is a baseline fetal heart rate of 160 to 170 beats per minute be considered a normal finding?

a. The fetus is at 28 weeks of gestation.
b. The mother has been given an epidural block.
c. The mother has a history of fast labors.
d. The mother has mild preeclampsia but is not in labor.

britb2u · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 27, 2018

Answer to Question 1

C
Meconium-stained amniotic fluid is an indication of fetal distress, so the fetal heart tones should be assessed by the nurse immediately. While the health care provider should be notified and bed linens would be changed, these actions are not the first actions the nurse should take. Maternal position should be changed to the left lateral position.

Answer to Question 2

A
Feedback
A The normal preterm fetus may have a baseline rate slightly higher than the term
fetus because of an immature parasympathetic nervous system that does not yet
exert a slowing effect on the fetal heart rate (FHR).
B Any change in the FHR with an epidural is not considered an expected outcome.
C Fast labors should not alter the FHR normally.
D Preeclampsia should not cause a normal elevation of the FHR.