A nurse assessing a postpartum woman 12 hours after uncomplicated vaginal birth finds her pulse to be 110 beats/minute. What action by the nurse is best?
A.
Assess the patient for causes of tachycardia.
B.
Document the findings and notify the provider.
C.
Facilitate a blood draw for laboratory studies.
D.
Place the patient on a 1,000-mL fluid restriction.
ANS: A
Postpartum tachycardia can result from several causes, including complications, blood loss, prolonged labor, temperature elevation, and infection. The nurse should assess the patient thoroughly to determine the cause of the tachycardia prior to notifying the provider. A blood draw may or may not be necessary. A fluid restriction would not be helpful, as this would lead to a temperature elevation and further tachycardia.
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