A patient who is having her sixth child has gone beyond term, and her labor is being induced with oxytocin (Pitocin). The patient is having increased frequency, duration, and intensity of contractions.
The nurse will interrupt the oxytocin infusion if what occurs?
a. Contractions occur every 2 to 3 minutes.
b. Individual contractions last 2 minutes.
c. Mild to moderate pain occurs with uterine contractions.
d. Resting intrauterine pressure is greater than 10 to 15 mm Hg.
Question 2
A pregnant patient is being induced with oxytocin, which has been infusing for 1 hour. The initial rate was 6 milliunits/min, and the rate now is 18 milliunits/min.
The nurse notes regular contractions occurring every 3 minutes, each lasting 35 seconds. The nurse will:
a. increase the rate of infusion by 1 to 2 milliunits/min every 15 to 40 minutes.
b. increase the rate of infusion by 3 to 6 milliunits/min every 15 to 40 minutes.
c. interrupt the infusion and continue to monitor the patient before restarting.
d. interrupt the infusion and notify the provider of potential oxytocin toxicity.