Author Question: A new mother is accompanied by her mother during her hospital stay on the postpartum unit. The ... (Read 62 times)

james0929 · **on:** Jun 28, 2018

A new mother is accompanied by her mother during her hospital stay on the postpartum unit. The patient's mother has made specific various requests of the nurses, including asking for a bottle so she can feed the baby after

the new mother attempts to breastfeed for the first time. How would the perinatal nurse best respond to the patient's mother in a culturally sensitive way?
A.
Ask both the patient and her mother about the preferred infant feeding method and assess what they already know.
B.
Ask the patient's mother to leave for 30 minutes to allow for some alone time with the patient in order to explore her learning needs.
C.
Ask the patient what she knows about breastfeeding and provide information to both women to support the patient's decision.
D.
Convey to the patient and her mother an understanding of the concepts of hot and cold within their belief system.

Question 2

A postpartum woman is complaining of a headache that is worsening despite having taken Tylenol (acetaminophen) an hour ago. She delivered yesterday with epidural anesthesia. What action by the nurse is best?

A.
Assess if the pain is worse when she sits upright.
B.
Call the provider and ask for stronger analgesics.
C.
Document the findings in the patient's chart.
D.
Notify the health-care provider immediately.

Jbrasil · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 28, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
In certain multicultural populations such as India, Thailand, and China, the woman's postpartum confinement lasts for 40 days. During this time, prolonged rest with restricted activity is believed to be essential. The postpartum period is an important time for ensuring future good health, and great emphasis is placed on allowing the mother's body to regain balance after the birth of a child. To provide sensitive, appropriate care, nurses need to adopt a flexible approach when caring for women who embrace non-Western health beliefs and practices. The nurse should advocate for the patient by inquiring about her feeding preferences and by providing information to the mother and her family to support her in her decision.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: A
Headache is not uncommon after childbirth. Patients who received epidural or spinal anesthesia may complain of headaches, especially on assuming an upright position. Because this patient had an epidural, the nurse should first assess for this situation. Asking for stronger pain medication should not be done unless the nurse has completed a comprehensive pain assessment. The health-care provider does not need to be notified right away unless the patient has other symptoms, such as blurred vision. Documentation should be thorough, but the nurse needs to take further action first.