A pregnant patient is diagnosed with placenta previa. Which action should the nurse implement immediately for this patient?
A) Assess fetal heart sounds with an external monitor.
B) Help the patient remain ambulatory to reduce bleeding.
C) Assess uterine contractions by an internal pressure gauge.
D) Prepare for a vaginal examination to assess the extent of bleeding.
A
Feedback:
For placenta previa, the nurse should attach external monitoring equipment to record fetal heart sounds and uterine contractions. Internal pressure gauges to measure uterine contractions are contraindicated. A pelvic or rectal examination should never be done with painless bleeding late in pregnancy because any agitation of the cervix when there is a placenta previa might tear the placenta further and initiate massive hemorrhage, which could be fatal to both mother and child. To ensure an adequate blood supply to the patient and fetus, the patient should be placed immediately on bed rest in a side-lying position.
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