A practical nurse is caring for a client who is 4 hours postpartum following a prolonged vaginal delivery. The client's baseline vital signs upon admission to the postpartum unit were blood pressure 118/76 mm Hg and heart rate 82 beats/min. The current vital signs are blood pressure 92/58 mm Hg and heart rate 118 beats/min. The client's fundus is firm, midline, and at the umbilicus, with moderate lochia rubra. Which action should the practical nurse take?
- AAdminister a prescribed intravenous fluid bolus to increase the blood pressure
- BDocument the vital signs as a normal physiological response to fluid loss during birth
- Notify the registered nurse immediately regarding the vital sign changesCevap
- DPerform vigorous fundal massage to expel any potential retained placental fragments
Cevap
Notify the registered nurse immediately regarding the vital sign changes
The correct answer involves notifying the registered nurse immediately. The client's significant tachycardia (118 beats/min) and hypotension (92/58 mm Hg) are early, critical signs of hypovolemic shock. Because the fundus is firm and lochia is moderate, this bleeding may be concealed (such as a vaginal or pelvic hematoma) or from a cervical laceration. The practical nurse must recognize these abnormal vital signs and promptly escalate the situation to the registered nurse for comprehensive assessment and rapid medical intervention.
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Anahtar Kavram
Recognizing early signs of postpartum hypovolemic shock and adhering to practical nurse scope of practice