Perinatal nurses are legally responsible for: a. Correctly ...

[faduma]

Perinatal nurses are legally responsible for:
 
  a. Correctly interpreting fetal heart rate (FHR) patterns, initiating appropriate nursing interventions, and documenting the outcomes.
  b. Greeting the client on arrival, assessing her, and starting an intravenous line.
  c. Applying the external fetal monitor and notifying the care provider.
  d. Making sure that the woman is comfortable.

Question 2

What three measures should the nurse implement to provide intrauterine resuscitation? Select the response that best indicates the priority of actions that should be taken.
 
  a. Call the provider, reposition the mother, and perform a vaginal examination.
  b. Reposition the mother, increase intravenous (IV) fluid, and provide oxygen via face mask.
  c. Administer oxygen to the mother, increase IV fluid, and notify the care provider.
  d. Perform a vaginal examination, reposition the mother, and provide oxygen via face mask.

[parshano]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A
Nurses who care for women during childbirth are legally responsible for correctly interpreting FHR patterns, initiating appropriate nursing interventions based on those patterns, and documenting the outcomes of those interventions. Greeting the client, assessing her, and starting an IV; applying the external fetal monitor and notifying the care provider; and making sure the woman is comfortable may be activities that a nurse performs, but they are not activities for which the nurse is legally responsible.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
Repositioning the mother, increasing intravenous (IV) fluid, and providing oxygen via face mask are correct nursing actions for intrauterine resuscitation. The nurse should initiate intrauterine resuscitation in an ABC manner, similar to basic life support. The first priority is to open the maternal and fetal vascular systems by repositioning the mother for improved perfusion. The second priority is to increase blood volume by increasing the IV fluid. The third priority is to optimize oxygenation of the circulatory volume by providing oxygen via face mask. If these interventions do not resolve the fetal heart rate issue quickly, the primary provider should be notified immediately.