Deck 15: Nursing Care During Labor and Birth

Question 1

The nurse auscultates the fetal heart rate and determines a rate of 152 bpm. Which nursing intervention is most appropriate at this time?

A) Inform the mother that the fetal heart rate is normal.
B) Reassess the fetal heart rate in 5 minutes because the rate is too high.
C) Report the fetal heart rate to the physician or nurse-midwife immediately.
D) Suggest to the mother that she is going to have a boy because the heart rate is fast.

Answer 1

Inform the mother that the fetal heart rate is normal.

Question 2

Which comfort measure should the nurse utilize in order to enable a laboring woman to relax?

A) Recommend frequent position changes.
B) Palpate her filling bladder every 15 minutes.
C) Offer warm wet cloths to use on the patient's face and neck.
D) Keep the room lights lit so the patient and her coach can see everything.

Answer 2

Recommend frequent position changes.

Question 3

A primigravida at 39 weeks of gestation is observed for 2 hours in the intrapartum unit. The fetal heart rate has been normal. Contractions are 5 to 9 minutes apart, 20 to 30 seconds in duration, and of mild intensity. Cervical dilation is 1 to 2 cm and uneffaced (unchanged from admission). Membranes are intact. The nurse should expect the patient to be

A) discharged home with a sedative.
B) admitted for extended observation.
C) admitted and prepared for a cesarean birth.
D) discharged home to await the onset of true labor.

Answer 3

discharged home to await the onset of true labor.

Question 4

A patient at 40 weeks' gestation should be instructed to go to a hospital or birth center for evaluation when she experiences

A) increased fetal movement.
B) irregular contractions for 1 hour.
C) a trickle of fluid from the vagina.
D) thick pink or dark red vaginal mucus.

Question 5

The nurse is preparing to perform Leopold's maneuvers. Please select the rationale for the consistent use of these maneuvers by obstetric providers?

A) To determine the status of the membranes
B) To determine cervical dilation and effacement
C) To determine the best location to assess the fetal heart rate
D) To determine whether the fetus is in the posterior position

Question 6

A woman who is gravida 3, para 2 enters the intrapartum unit. The most important nursing assessments include

A) contraction pattern, amount of discomfort, and pregnancy history.
B) fetal heart rate, maternal vital signs, and the woman's nearness to birth.
C) last food intake, when labor began, and cultural practices the couple desires.
D) identification of ruptured membranes, the woman's gravida and para, and access to a support person.

Question 7

At 1 minute after birth, the nurse assesses the newborn to assign an Apgar score. The apical heart rate is 110 bpm, and the infant is crying vigorously with the limbs flexed. The infant's trunk is pink and the hands and feet are blue. The Apgar score for this infant is

A) 7.
B) 8.
C) 9.
D) 10.

Question 8

Which of the following behaviors would be applicable to a nursing diagnosis of "risk for injury" in a patient who is in labor?

A) Length of second-stage labor is 2 hours.
B) Patient has received an epidural for pain control during the labor process.
C) Patient is using breathing techniques during contractions to maximize pain relief.
D) Patient is receiving parenteral fluids during the course of labor to maintain hydration.

Question 9

Which intervention is an essential part of nursing care for a laboring patient?

A) Helping the woman manage the pain
B) Eliminating the pain associated with labor
C) Feeling comfortable with the predictable nature of intrapartal care
D) Sharing personal experiences regarding labor and birth to decrease her anxiety

Question 10

Which nursing assessment indicates that a patient who is in the second stage of labor is almost ready to give birth?

A) Bloody mucous discharge increases.
B) The vulva bulges and encircles the fetal head.
C) The membranes rupture during a contraction.
D) The fetal head is felt at 0 station during the vaginal examination.

Question 11

The nurse notes that a patient who has given birth 1 hour ago is touching her infant with her fingertips and talking to him softly in high-pitched tones. Based on this observation, which action should the nurse take?

A) Request a social service consult for psychosocial support.
B) Observe for other signs that the mother may not be accepting of the infant.
C) Document this evidence of normal early maternal-infant attachment behavior.
D) Determine whether the mother is too fatigued to interact normally with her infant.

Question 12

Which nursing diagnosis would take priority in the care of a primipara patient with no visible support person in attendance? The patient has entered the second stage of labor after a first stage of labor lasting 4 hours.

A) Fluid volume deficit (FVD) related to fluid loss during labor and birth process
B) Fatigue related to length of labor requiring increased energy expenditure
C) Acute pain related to increased intensity of contractions
D) Anxiety related to imminent birth process

Question 13

During labor a vaginal examination should be performed only when necessary because of the risk of

A) infection.
B) fetal injury.
C) discomfort.
D) perineal trauma.

Question 14

The nurse thoroughly dries the infant immediately after birth primarily to

A) reduce heat loss from evaporation.
B) stimulate crying and lung expansion.
C) increase blood supply to the hands and feet.
D) remove maternal blood from the skin surface.

Question 15

Which assessment finding is an indication of hemorrhage in the recently delivered postpartum patient?

A) Elevated pulse rate
B) Elevated blood pressure
C) Firm fundus at the midline
D) Saturation of two perineal pads in 4 hours

Question 16

Which patient at term should proceed to the hospital or birth center the immediately after labor begins?

A) Gravida 2, para 1, who lives 10 minutes away
B) Gravida 1, para 0, who lives 40 minutes away
C) Gravida 2, para 1, whose first labor lasted 16 hours
D) Gravida 3, para 2, whose longest previous labor was 4 hours

Question 17

The nurse is caring for a low-risk patient in the active phase of labor. At which interval should the nurse assess the fetal heart rate?

A) Every 15 minutes
B) Every 30 minutes
C) Every 45 minutes
D) Every 1 hour

Question 18

A 25-year-old primigravida patient is in the first stage of labor. She and her husband have been holding hands and breathing together through each contraction. Suddenly, the patient pushes her husband's hand away and shouts, "Don't touch me!" This behavior is most likely

A) a sign of abnormal labor progress.
B) an indication that she needs analgesia.
C) normal and related to hyperventilation.
D) common during the transition phase of labor.

Question 19

Which clinical finding would be an indication to the nurse that the fetus may be compromised?

A) Active fetal movements
B) Fetal heart rate in the 140s
C) Contractions lasting 90 seconds
D) Meconium-stained amniotic fluid

Question 20

If a woman's fundus is soft 30 minutes after birth, the nurse's first action should be to

A) massage the fundus.
B) take the blood pressure.
C) notify the physician or nurse-midwife.
D) place the woman in Trendelenburg position.

Question 21

After a forceps-assisted birth, the patient is observed to have continuous bright red lochia and a firm fundus. Which other data would indicate the presence of a potential vaginal wall hematoma?

A) Lack of an episiotomy
B) Mild, intermittent perineal pain
C) Lack of pain in the perineal area
D) Edema and discoloration of the labia and perineum

Question 22

On vaginal exam, the patient's cervix is anterior, soft, 70% effaced, dilated 2 cm, and the presenting part is at 0 station. The Bishop's score for this patient is

A) 6.
B) 9.
C) 10.
D) 12.

Question 23

For which patient should the oxytocin (Pitocin) infusion be discontinued immediately?

A) A patient in transition with contractions every 2 minutes lasting 90 seconds each
B) A patient in early labor with contractions every 5 minutes lasting 40 seconds each
C) A patient in active labor with contractions every 3 minutes lasting 60 seconds each
D) A patient in active labor with contractions every 2 to 3 minutes lasting 70 to 80 seconds each

Question 24

While assisting with a vacuum extraction birth, which alteration should the nurse immediately report to the obstetric provider?

A) Maternal pulse rate of 100 bpm
B) Maternal blood pressure of 120/70 mm Hg
C) Persistent fetal bradycardia below 100 bpm
D) Decreased intensity of uterine contractions

Question 25

The nurse is reviewing the cardinal maneuvers of labor and birth with a group of nursing students. Which maneuver will immediately follow the birth of the baby's head?

A) Expulsion
B) Restitution
C) Internal rotation
D) External rotation

Question 26

A nursing priority during admission of a laboring patient who has not had prenatal care is

A) obtaining admission labs.
B) identifying labor risk factors.
C) discussing her birth plan choices.
D) explaining importance of prenatal care.

Question 27

Which assessment would be important for a 6-hour-old infant who has bruising over the cheeks from a forceps birth?

A) Presence of newborn reflexes
B) Symmetry of facial movements
C) Caput and molding of the head
D) Anterior and posterior fontanels

Question 28

A patient who is receiving oxytocin (Pitocin) infusion for the augmentation of labor is experiencing a contraction pattern of more than eight contractions in a 10-minute period. Which intervention would be a priority?

A) Increase rate of Pitocin infusion to help spread out contraction pattern.
B) Place oxygen on patient at 8 to 10 L/minute via face mask and turn patient to left side.
C) Stop Pitocin infusion.
D) Call physician to obtain an order for initiation of magnesium sulfate.

Question 29

To monitor for potential hemorrhage in the patient who has just had a cesarean birth, which action should the recovery room nurse implement?

A) Monitor her urinary output.
B) Maintain an intravenous infusion at 1 mL/hour.
C) Assess the abdominal dressings for drainage.
D) Assess the uterus for firmness every 15 minutes.

Question 30

The nurse is preparing to initiate intravenous (IV) access on a patient in the active phase of labor. Which size IV cannula is best for this patient?

A) 18-gauge
B) 20-gauge
C) 22-gauge
D) 24-gauge

Question 31

The patient in labor experiences a spontaneous rupture of membranes. Which information related to this event must the nurse include in the patient's record?

A) Fetal heart rate
B) Pain level
C) Test results ensuring that the fluid is not urine
D) The patient's understanding of the event

Question 32

A maternal indication for the use of vacuum extraction is

A) a wide pelvic outlet.
B) maternal exhaustion.
C) a history of rapid deliveries.
D) failure to progress past 0 station.

Question 33

The nurse is explaining the technique of internal version to a nursing orientee. Which statement best describes the technique of internal version?

A) Manipulation of the fetus from a breech to a cephalic presentation before labor begins
B) Manipulation of the fetus from a transverse lie to a longitudinal lie before cesarean birth
C) Manipulation of the second twin from an oblique lie to a transverse lie before labor begins
D) Manipulation of the second twin from a transverse lie to a breech presentation during vaginal birth

Question 34

The nurse is preparing to administer a vaginal prostaglandin preparation to ripen the cervix of her patient. With which patient should the nurse question the use of vaginal prostaglandin as a cervical ripening agent?

A) The patient who has a Bishop's score of 5
B) The patient who is at 42 weeks of gestation
C) The patient who had a previous low transverse cesarean birth
D) The patient who had previous surgery in the upper uterus

Question 35

Immediately following the forceps-assisted birth of an infant, which action should the nurse implement?

A) Assess the infant for signs of trauma.
B) Apply a cold pack to the infant's scalp.
C) Give the infant prophylactic antibiotics.
D) Measure the circumference of the infant's head.

Question 36

Which breech presentation should the nurse recognize as being favorable for an external cephalic version?

A) 36-week gestation with low-lying placenta
B) 38-week gestation with one previous cesarean
C) 37-week gestation with fetal weight of 7 lb
D) 40-week gestation with several uterine fibroids

Question 37

The nurse assesses the amniotic fluid. Which characteristic presents the lowest risk of fetal complications?

A) Bloody
B) Clear with bits of vernix caseosa
C) Green and thick
D) Yellow and cloudy with foul odor

Question 38

The nurse is performing Leopold's maneuvers on her patient. Which figure depicts the Leopold's maneuver that determines whether the fetal presenting part is engaged in the maternal pelvis? Refer to Figures A to D.

A)
B)
C)
D)

Question 39

Which aspect of newborn assessment may be limited by the application of a vacuum extractor at birth?

A) Anterior fontanel
B) Coronal suture lines
C) Posterior fontanel
D) Biparietal diameter

Question 40

Which patient presentation is an acceptable indication for serial oxytocin induction of labor?

A) Multiple fetuses
B) Polyhydramnios
C) History of long labors
D) Past 42 weeks of gestation

Question 41

Induction of labor is considered an acceptable obstetric procedure if it is a safe time to deliver the fetus. The charge nurse on the labor and birth unit is often asked to schedule patients for this procedure and therefore must be cognizant of the specific conditions appropriate for labor induction, including which of the following? (Select all that apply.)

A) Fetal death
B) Postterm pregnancy
C) Rupture of membranes at or near term
D) Convenience of the patient or her health care provider
E) Chorioamnionitis (inflammation of the amniotic sac)

Question 42

Following an external cephalic version, which assessment finding indicates a complication?

A) Onset of irregular contractions
B) Maternal blood pressure of 110/70 mm Hg
C) Deceleration of FHR to 88 bpm
D) Maternal pulse rate of 100 bpm

Question 43

The labor nurse is developing a plan of care for a patient admitted in active labor with spontaneous rupture of the membranes 6 hours prior to admission with clear fluid. On admission, vital signs were as follows: maternal heart rate (HR) 92 bpm; fetal rate (FHR) baseline, 150 to 160 bpm; blood pressure, 124/76 mm Hg; temperature 37.2° C (99° F). What is the priority nursing action for this patient?

A) Fetal acoustic stimulation
B) Assess temperature every 2 hours
C) Change absorption pads under her hips every 2 hours
D) Review white blood cell count (WBC) drawn at admission

Question 44

Which interventions should be performed in the birth room to facilitate thermoregulation of the newborn? (Select all that apply.)

A) Place the infant covered with blankets in the radiant warmer.
B) Dry the infant off with sterile towels.
C) Place stockinette cap on infant's head.
D) Bathe the newborn within 30 minutes of birth.
E) Remove wet linen as needed.

Question 45

A laboring patient is 10 cm dilated; however, she does not feel the urge to push. The nurse understands that according to laboring down, the advantages of waiting until an urge to push are which of the following? (Select all that apply.)

A) Less maternal fatigue
B) Less birth canal injuries
C) Decreased pushing time
D) Faster descent of the fetus
E) An increase in frequency of contractions

Question 46

The nurse is monitoring a patient in the active stage of labor. Which conditions associated with fetal compromise should the nurse monitor? (Select all that apply.)

A) Maternal hypotension
B) Fetal heart rate of 140 to 150 bpm
C) Meconium-stained amniotic fluid
D) Maternal fever-38°C (100.4°F) or higher
E) Complete uterine relaxation of more than 30 seconds between contractions

Question 47

When caring for a patient in labor who is considered to be at low risk, which assessments should be included in the plan of care? (Select all that apply.)

A) Check the DTR each shift.
B) Monitor and record vital signs frequently during the course of labor.
C) Document the FHR pattern, noting baseline and response to contraction patterns.
D) Indicate on the EFM tracing when maternal position changes are done.
E) Provide food, as tolerated, during the course of labor.

Question 48

The nurse in the birth room receives an order to give a newborn 0.3 mg of naloxone (Narcan) intramuscularly. The medication vial reads naloxone (Narcan), 0.4 mg/mL. The nurse should prepare how many milliliters to administer the correct dose? Fill in the blank and record your answer using two decimal places. _____ mL

Question 49

The nurse is caring for a patient in the fourth stage of labor. Which assessment findings should the nurse identify as a potential complication? (Select all that apply.)

A) Soft boggy uterus
B) Maternal temperature of 37.2°C (99°F)
C) High uterine fundus displaced to the right
D) Intense vaginal pain unrelieved by analgesics
E) Half of a lochia pad saturated in the first hour after birth

Question 50

The pregnant patient expresses a desire to schedule birth during the baby's father's furlough from military service. The nurse explains that prior to induction of labor, it is essential to determine which clinical finding?

A) Dilated cervix
B) Fetal lung maturity
C) Rupture of membranes
D) Uterine hypertonia