Exam 17: Maximizing Comfort for the Laboring Woman

Nursing care measures are commonly offered to women in labor.Which nursing measure reflects the application of the gate-control theory?

Breathing patterns are taught to laboring women.Which breathing pattern should the nurse support for the woman and her coach during the latent phase of the first stage of labor if the couple has attended childbirth preparation classes?

A woman in labor is breathing into a mouthpiece just before the start of her regular contractions.As she inhales,a valve opens and gas is released.She continues to inhale the gas slowly and deeply until the contraction starts to subside.When the inhalation stops,the valve closes.Which statement regarding this procedure is correct?

Which statement is not an expected outcome for the client who attends a reputable childbirth preparation program?

Which alterations in the perception of pain by a laboring client should the nurse understand?

Nurses with an understanding of cultural differences regarding likely reactions to pain may be better able to help their clients.Which clients may initially appear very stoic but then become quite vocal as labor progresses until late in labor,when they become more vocal and request pain relief?

The obstetric nurse is preparing the client for an emergency cesarean birth,with no time to administer spinal anesthesia.The nurse is aware of and prepared for the greatest risk of administering general anesthesia to the client.What is this risk?

The class of drugs known as opioid analgesics (butorphanol,nalbuphine)is not suitable for administration to women with known opioid dependence.The antagonistic activity could precipitate withdrawal symptoms (abstinence syndrome)in both mothers and newborns.Which signs would indicate opioid or narcotic withdrawal in the mother? (Select all that apply).

The nurse should be aware of what important information regarding systemic analgesics administered during labor?

A laboring woman has received meperidine (Demerol)intravenously (IV),90 minutes before giving birth.Which medication should be available to reduce the postnatal effects of meperidine on the neonate?

A woman has requested an epidural for her pain.She is 5 cm dilated and 100% effaced.The baby is in a vertex position and is engaged.The nurse increases the woman's IV fluid for a preprocedural bolus.The nurse reviews her laboratory values and notes that the woman's hemoglobin is 12 g/dl,hematocrit is 38%,platelets are 67,000,and white blood cells (WBCs)are 12,000/mm³.Which factor would contraindicate an epidural for this woman?

The nurse should be cognizant of which important information regarding nerve block analgesia and anesthesia?

A woman in the active phase of the first stage of labor is using a shallow pattern of breathing,which is approximately twice the normal adult breathing rate.She starts to complain about feeling lightheaded and dizzy and states that her fingers are tingling.Which intervention should the nurse immediately initiate?

Maternity nurses often have to answer questions about the many,sometimes unusual,ways people have tried to make the birthing experience more comfortable.Which information regarding nonpharmacologic pain relief is accurate?