A 32-year-old who was admitted to the emergency department with severe abdominal pain is diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy. The patient begins to cry and asks the nurse to leave her alone to grieve. Which action should the nurse take next?
a. Stay with the patient and encourage her to discuss her feelings.
b. Explain the reason for taking vital signs every 15 to 30 minutes.
c. Close the door to the patient's room and minimize disturbances.
d. Provide teaching about options for termination of the pregnancy.
ANS: B
Because the patient is at risk for rupture of the fallopian tube and hemorrhage, frequent monitoring of vital signs is needed. The patient has asked to be left alone, so staying with her and encouraging her to discuss her feelings are inappropriate actions. Minimizing contact with her and closing the door of the room is unsafe because of the risk for hemorrhage. Because the patient has requested time to grieve, it would be inappropriate to provide teaching about options for pregnancy termination.
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