The nurse is working with male teens whose partners are pregnant. What situation requires that the nurse intervene? The father-to-be states that:

Question

1. He is the only other person who will be present, although his girlfriend wants her mother to be with her during the birth.
2. He is not convinced that he is the father of the baby and doesn't want his name on the birth certificate.
3. The pregnancy doesn't seem real to him, and he's not sure what he should do to plan for the future.
4. Because his father was not involved in his life, he wants to be actively involved in the life of his child.

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 1
Rationale 1: It is common for pregnant adolescents to want their mothers to accompany them for the labor and birth. Overriding his girlfriend's expressed desire could be an indication that their relationship is abusive. Because studies indicate 16–37% of pregnant teens experience abuse from their partners, this statement requires follow-up by the nurse to assess for abuse.
Rationale 2: Many young fathers are not sure if they are the father of the baby and do not want to be listed on the birth certificate if they are not sure. Often these young men will request paternity testing to either verify or discount their parentage.
Rationale 3: An early pregnancy is often an abstract concept to fathers. It is normal for a teen to be unsure about the future.
Rationale 4: This might be the case when a young father was raised without his own father, or a lack of involvement with the child might be seen as the norm and desired.