A nurse is assessing a patient for Chadwick's sign. In order to ...

[rlane42]

A nurse is assessing a patient for Chadwick's sign. In order to do this correctly, what action does the nurse take?
 
  A.
  Assesses the color of the patient's vaginal mucosa and cervix.
  B.
  Feels the patient's abdomen for passive fetal movement.
  C.
  Obtains a urine specimen for a pregnancy test.
  D.
  Palpates the patient's abdomen for uterine asymmetry.

Question 2

The nurse reads positive Hegar's sign in a patient's chart. What can the nurse conclude about the patient?
 
  A.
  Patient had a miscarriage
  B.
  Patient is post-partum
  C.
  Patient is pregnant
  D.
  Patient may be pregnant

[aburgess]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A
Chadwick's sign is a bluish discoloration of the vaginal mucosa and cervix. The nurse needs to visually inspect this anatomy to determine if the patient has a positive Chadwick's sign. Ballottement is the passive movement of the unengaged fetus. Obtaining urine for a urine test is a diagnostic test, not a physical assessment. An asymmetrical uterus with a soft prominence on the implantation side is a positive Piskacek's sign.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: D
Hegar's sign is softening of the lower uterine segment and is a probable sign of pregnancy, so the nurse concludes that the patient may be pregnant. A positive Hegar's sign can also be caused by pelvic congestion.