A woman in active labor complains of feeling "dizzy and faint." When the nurse checks her blood pressure, she or he finds that the reading is lower than previous readings. Based on the nurse's inference, the first nursing action should be to:
a. Lower the bed to the Trendelenburg position.
b. Turn the patient to her left side.
c. Recheck her blood pressure to verify accuracy of reading.
d. Report this episode to the midwife or physician.
ANS: B
Lying on the back places pressure on the mother's blood vessels and can cause decreased cardiac output and blood pressure. This is referred to as supine hypotensive syndrome.
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According to National League for Nursing (NLN), as described in Table 4-2, as a provider of care the RN
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