A laboring client receives meperidine (Demerol) 25 mg IV. The nurse judges the effectiveness of the medication primarily by assessing
a. vital signs
b. fetal heart rate
c. intensity of the contractions
d. coping behavior with her uterine contractions
D
Demerol is an opioid analgesic that affects the person's perception of pain so, as the perception decreases, coping behaviors may improve. This low dose should have no impact on the intensity of the contractions. A lowering of the fetal heart rate is an indication of adverse effects of Demerol. While the mother's vital signs might be positively impacted, this is not the best indicator of effectiveness.
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