On examining a woman who gave birth 5 hours ago, the nurse finds that the woman has completely saturated a perineal pad within 15 minutes. The nurse's first action is to:
a. Begin an intravenous (IV) infusion of Ringer's lactate solution.
b. Assess the woman's vital signs.
c. Call the woman's primary health care provider.
d. Massage the woman's fundus.
ANS: D
The nurse should assess the uterus for atony. Uterine tone must be established to prevent excessive blood loss. The nurse may begin an IV infusion to restore circulatory volume, but this would not be the first action. Blood pressure is not a reliable indicator of impending shock from impending hemorrhage; assessing vital signs should not be the nurse's first action. The physician would be notified after the nurse completes the assessment of the woman.
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