A postpartum patient complains of severe perineal pain and a ...

[B]

A postpartum patient complains of severe perineal pain and a sensation of needing to defecate but cannot pass stool. What action by the nurse is best?
 
  A.
  Administer a stool softener.
  B.
  Document the findings in the chart.
  C.
  Offer a warm sitz bath.
  D.
  Palpate the perineal area.

Question 2

A woman has painful hemorrhoids after a vaginal birth. Her husband brings her a donut pillow to sit on. What response by the nurse is best?
 
  A.
  A lot of women get good pain relief from these.
  B.
  Donut pillows actually increase hemorrhoid pain.
  C.
  I will have to get permission for her to use this.
  D.
  That was nice of you, but these don't work well.

[tennis14576]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: D
A perineal hematoma can cause excessive pain and the sensation of needing to defecate. The nurse assesses for this condition by gently palpating the perineal area through sterile gloves while observing for the degree of sensitivity to this touch. If a hematoma is suspected, the provider needs to be notified immediately so that the bleeding can be identified and halted.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
Soft surfaces and pillows such as donut rings should not be used by the woman with hemorrhoids, as they separate the buttocks when the woman sits down and decrease venous flow, which increases pain. The woman should be instructed to sit on hard surfaces and tighten the buttocks prior to sitting. The other responses do not give accurate information.

[B]

Thank you

[tennis14576]

Happy to help you