The nurse assesses a woman in labor and finds that her cervix is ...

[tuffie]

The nurse assesses a woman in labor and finds that her cervix is dilated to 9 cm. The nurse documents the woman to be in what phase of labor?
 
  A.
  First stage
  B.
  Second stage
  C.
  Third stage
  D.
  Fourth stage

Question 2

A nulliparous woman in labor is 3 cm dilated at 10:00 a.m. Based on knowledge of the average nulliparous woman's progression, when would the nurse expect her to be fully dilated?
 
  A.
  12:00 p.m.
  B.
  2:00 p.m.
  C.
  5:00 p.m.
  D.
  10:00 p.m.

[carlsona147]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A
The first stage of labor begins with regular uterine contractions and ends when the cervix is fully dilated (10 cm). The second stage of labor begins with full dilation of the cervix and ends with the birth of the baby. The third stage of labor is the period of time from the birth of the baby to the complete delivery of the placenta. The fourth stage of labor is the period of maternal physiological adjustment that occurs from the time of delivery of the placenta through the first 1 to 2 hours after birth.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
A nulliparous woman, on average, dilates 1 cm/hour of labor. The nurse would expect this woman to be fully dilated 7 hours from the initial assessment, or at 5:00 p.m.