A pregnant patient in her third trimester has been involved in a motor vehicle accident. Which of the following actions should the nurse implement to treat the patient's symptoms of hypotension?
1. place the patient in the supine position
2. turn the patient to the left lateral position
3. turn the patient to the right lateral position
4. place the patient in Trendlenburg's position
2
Rationale: Placing the patient in the left lateral position shifts the uterus to the left, thus, preventing the heavy uterus from compressing the inferior vena cava against the spinal column and decreasing venous return and preload. All other positions will lead to the development of inferior vena cava syndrome and make it difficult to treat hypotension.
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