Your patient is being induced because of her worsening preeclampsia. She is also receiving magnesium sulfate. It appears that her labor has not become active despite several hours of oxytocin administration
She asks the nurse, "Why is it taking so long?" The most appropriate response by the nurse would be:
a. "The magnesium is relaxing your uterus and competing with the oxytocin. It may increase the duration of your labor."
b. "I don't know why it is taking so long."
c. "The length of labor varies for different women."
d. "Your baby is just being stubborn."
ANS: A
Because magnesium sulfate is a tocolytic agent, its use may increase the duration of labor. The amount of oxytocin needed to stimulate labor may be more than that needed for the woman who is not receiving magnesium sulfate. "I don't know why it is taking so long" is not an appropriate statement for the nurse to make. Although the length of labor does vary in different women, the most likely reason this woman's labor is protracted is the tocolytic effect of magnesium sulfate. The behavior of the fetus has no bearing on the length of labor.
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