Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct initial action for the AGACNP is to provide counseling to the patient regarding her options (Choice D). This is important to ensure the patient's safety, well-being, and autonomy. Counseling will allow the patient to explore her feelings, understand her options, and make an informed decision about her next steps. Reporting the physical assault to law enforcement (Choice A) should only be done with the patient's consent to respect her wishes. Having the patient sign a release to go home with her husband (Choice B) could potentially put the patient at risk of further harm. Consulting psychiatry for a psych hold (Choice C) may not be appropriate unless the patient is deemed a danger to herself or others.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A because Bishop's score assesses the readiness of the cervix for labor by evaluating descent (station of the fetal head), presentation (fetal position), and cervical dilatation, which are key indicators of cervical ripening and effacement. Descent shows the progress of the fetus through the birth canal, presentation indicates the fetal position for delivery, and cervical dilatation reflects the opening of the cervix for labor. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect as they do not encompass all the essential components of Bishop's score, which focuses on descent, presentation, and cervical dilatation.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Emergency cesarean section. Emergency cesarean sections can increase the risk of puerperal sepsis due to the urgency of the procedure, which may lead to inadequate sterilization or contamination. Other choices are less directly associated with puerperal sepsis: A may increase the risk of infection, but not specifically puerperal sepsis. C relates to general hygiene practices and D focuses on delays in seeking care, which may affect treatment outcomes but are not direct predisposing factors to puerperal sepsis.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Assess fetal lung maturity. Amniotic fluid analysis measures the levels of substances like surfactant, which indicates lung maturity. This helps in determining if the fetus is ready for delivery. Other choices are incorrect because amniotic fluid analysis is not primarily used to detect fetal infections (A), determine fetal position (C), or assess placental health (D). These functions are typically achieved through other diagnostic tests or imaging techniques.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Ammonia. Ammonia is a primary chemical mediator of hepatic encephalopathy. In patients with chronic liver disease, the liver's ability to detoxify ammonia is compromised, leading to its accumulation in the bloodstream and subsequent neurotoxic effects causing encephalopathy. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), false neurotransmitters, and serotonin are all implicated in the pathophysiology of hepatic encephalopathy. GABA is involved in neurotransmission, false neurotransmitters are substances that disrupt normal neurotransmission, and serotonin levels are altered in hepatic encephalopathy.