A patient in labor is approaching the transition stage and already has an epidural in place. An additional dose of medication has been prescribed and administered to the patient. Which priority intervention should be performed in order to evaluate the clinical response to treatment?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. Document maternal blood pressure and fetal heart rates following medication administration and observe for any variations. This is because assessing maternal blood pressure and fetal heart rates can provide crucial information about the patient's response to the medication and the overall well-being of both the mother and the baby during labor. Any variations in these vital signs could indicate potential complications that need immediate attention. Choice A is not the priority as pain assessment, though important, may not provide immediate information on the effectiveness of the medication in this critical stage of labor. Choice C, documenting intake and output, is not as critical as monitoring vital signs in this scenario. Choice D is also not the priority as increasing fluid rate, though important for hydration, may not be the immediate concern in evaluating the clinical response to the medication.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Left occiput posterior. In this position, the baby's head is facing the mother's sacrum, making labor longer and more painful due to the baby's position causing more pressure on the mother's back and pelvis. Left occiput anterior (B) and Right occiput anterior (C) are favorable positions for a smoother labor. Right occiput transverse (D) can also lead to a longer and more complicated labor, but not as much as Left occiput posterior.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Remove the patient from the water. This is the priority intervention because the patient's safety is at risk due to feeling faint. Removing the patient from the water helps prevent potential drowning or injury. Increasing room temperature (choice B) may worsen the patient's condition by increasing heat stress. Providing additional fluids orally (choice C) may not address the immediate risk of fainting. Notifying the physician immediately (choice D) is important, but ensuring the patient's safety by removing them from the water takes precedence.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Helps maintain proper fetal alignment. Using a birth ball during labor helps the mother maintain an upright position, which can aid in proper alignment of the fetus for an optimal birthing position. This can facilitate the progress of labor and potentially reduce the risk of complications. A: Provides a distraction from labor pain - While using a birth ball may offer some distraction, the primary benefit is not pain management. C: Increases the rate of cervical dilation - While movement and positioning can support the body's natural labor process, the birth ball itself does not directly increase cervical dilation rate. D: Reduces the likelihood of epidural anesthesia use - While movement and positioning can sometimes help manage pain and reduce the need for epidural anesthesia, the primary benefit of the birth ball is more related to fetal alignment than pain management.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C because when the fetal station is at +2, it indicates that the presenting part is below the ischial spines. This means the baby's head is 2 cm below the ischial spines, which is a significant milestone in the descent of the fetus through the birth canal. The other choices are incorrect because: A) +2 station indicates descent, not that the fetus is high in the pelvis; B) Ischial spines are at 0 station, not +2; D) Crowning is at +5 station, not +2.