A new patient has come to the clinic. While the nurse is taking the patient's history, the patient tells the nurse she is trying to get pregnant and she is very fearful she will have another miscarriage

Question

She states she has lost two pregnancies and she shares with the nurse that she does not know why she lost the babies. Based on this patient's history, what recommendation should the nurse make at the present time?
A) Instruct her to continue to try to get pregnant.
B) Let the patient know that her loss may not occur again.
C) Instruct her on chromosome testing studies.
D) Tell her to have an amniocentesis with the next pregnancy.

Answer 1

Ans: C
Feedback: At the present time, the nurse should instruct the woman on chromosome studies. Chromosome studies may be needed at any age, depending on the indication. Two common indications are a suspected diagnosis such as Down syndrome and a history of two or more unexplained pregnancy losses, which the woman has described. The other answers are incorrect because instructing the woman to continue to try to get pregnant is redundant. The woman has already said she is trying to get pregnant. She should have an amniocentesis with the next pregnancy, but this is not as imperative as the chromosome studies. Telling the patient she will not experience another loss would be a belittling response. It is her choice to have the chromosome studies, but it is important that the nurse explain all the risks surrounding pregnancy and pregnancy loss based on the patient's history.