A patient in active labor starts to complain of circumoral numbness and tingling in her fingertips. What should the nurse do?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Encourage the woman to slow down her breathing. Circumoral numbness and tingling in the fingertips are symptoms of hyperventilation, which can occur during labor due to increased anxiety. Slowing down breathing helps to correct the imbalance of oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, alleviating the symptoms. Increasing IV fluids (A) is not indicated for hyperventilation. Pain medication (B) does not address the root cause. Obtaining an arterial blood gas (C) is not necessary unless the symptoms persist after addressing hyperventilation.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because a birthing ball promotes pelvic mobility, which can help reduce pain during labor by encouraging movement and optimal positioning of the baby. It is not contraindicated for patients with high blood pressure unless specifically advised by a healthcare provider. It can be used throughout labor, not just during the second stage, and is effective at various stages, not just in early labor.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Start an IV and monitor the fetal heart rate. This is the most appropriate intervention as it allows for assessment of fetal well-being and maternal status. IV access is crucial for potential interventions like administering medications or fluids. Monitoring fetal heart rate helps determine fetal distress. Administering magnesium sulfate (choice A) should be considered for preterm labor, not routine contractions. Performing a cesarean section immediately (choice C) is not indicated without proper evaluation. Encouraging the patient to push (choice D) is premature without assessing cervical dilation.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Perform a nonstress test (NST) to assess fetal well-being. 1. Decreased fetal movement can be a sign of fetal distress. 2. NST helps monitor fetal heart rate and movement to assess fetal well-being. 3. It is a non-invasive and effective way to determine fetal health. 4. Other choices are incorrect: A: Incorrect because decreased fetal movement is not always normal and should be assessed. C: Incorrect as tocolytic agents are used to stop preterm labor, not for decreased fetal movement. D: Incorrect as sugary drinks do not reliably stimulate fetal movement.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Administer magnesium sulfate. Magnesium sulfate is commonly used to delay preterm labor by relaxing uterine smooth muscle. It inhibits contractions and delays labor progression. It is a standard treatment to prevent preterm birth and reduce the risk of complications for both the mother and the baby. Choice B: Emergency cesarean section is not indicated for delaying preterm labor unless there are severe complications putting the mother or baby at immediate risk. Choice C: Administering a prostaglandin inhibitor may help in some cases, but magnesium sulfate is the preferred choice for delaying labor in preterm pregnancies. Choice D: Starting a Pitocin infusion would actually stimulate contractions and hasten labor, which is the opposite of what is needed in this scenario.