C HAPTER 10: N URSING C ARE OF W OMEN
WITH C OMPLICATIONS A FTER B IRTH
Introduction to Maternity and Pediatric Nursing , 8th Edition ; Leifer
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The nurse is caring for a woman who had a cesarean birth yesterday.
Varicose veins are visible on both legs. What nursing action is the most
appropriate to prevent thrombus formation?
a. Have the woman sit in a chair for meals.
b. Monitor vital signs every 4 hours and report any changes.
c. Tell the woman to remain in bed with her legs elevated.
d. Assist the woman with ambulation for short periods of time.
ANS: D
Earl y ambulation and range -of-motion exercises are valuable ai ds to
prevent thrombus formation in the postpartum woman.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: Page 253 TOP:
Thrombus Prevention KEY: Nursing Process Step:
Implementation MSC: NC LEX: Physiological Integrit y:
Physiological Adaptation
2. Five days after a spontaneous vaginal delivery, a woman comes to the
emergency room because she has a fever and persistent cramping. What
, does the nurse recognize as the possible cause of these signs and
s ymptoms?
a. Dehydration
b. Hypovolemic shock
c. Endometritis
d. Cystitis
ANS: C
Fever after 24 hours following delivery is suggestive of an infection.
Severe cramping and fever are manifestations of endometritis.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Anal ysis REF: Page 254 OBJ: 2
TOP: Puerperal Infections KEY: Nursing Process
Step: Data Co llection MSC: NC LEX: Physiological
Integrit y: Physiological Adaptation
3. At her 6-week postpartum checkup, a woman mentions to the nurse that
she cannot sleep and is not eating. She feels guilt y because sometimes she
believes her infant is dead. What does the nurse recognize as the cause of
this womans symptoms?
a. Bipolar disorder
b. Major depression
c. Postpartum blues
d. Postpartum depression
ANS: B
, Major depression is a disorder characterized by deep feelings of
worthlessness, guilt, serious sleep and appetite di sturbances, and
sometimes delusions about the infant being dead.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Anal ysis REF: Page 257 TOP:
Major Depression KEY: Nursing Process Step: Data Collection
MSC: NC LEX: Psychosocial Integrit y: Coping and
Adaptation
4. Three weeks afte r delivering her first child, a woman tells the nurse, I
waited so long for this baby and now that she is here, I cant believe how
different m y life is from what I expected. What is the best nursing
response to the womans statement?
a. How is your partner adj usting to the change?
b. I hear this from a lot of first -time mothers.
c. Have you told anyone else about your feelings?
d. Tell me how things are different.
ANS: D
The nurse may help the woman by being a sympathetic listener. The
nurse should elicit the new moth ers feelings about motherhood and her
infant.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: Page 257 TOP:
Disorders of Mood KEY: Nursing Process Step:
Implementation MSC: NC LEX: Psychosocial Integrit y: Coping
and Adaptation
WITH C OMPLICATIONS A FTER B IRTH
Introduction to Maternity and Pediatric Nursing , 8th Edition ; Leifer
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The nurse is caring for a woman who had a cesarean birth yesterday.
Varicose veins are visible on both legs. What nursing action is the most
appropriate to prevent thrombus formation?
a. Have the woman sit in a chair for meals.
b. Monitor vital signs every 4 hours and report any changes.
c. Tell the woman to remain in bed with her legs elevated.
d. Assist the woman with ambulation for short periods of time.
ANS: D
Earl y ambulation and range -of-motion exercises are valuable ai ds to
prevent thrombus formation in the postpartum woman.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: Page 253 TOP:
Thrombus Prevention KEY: Nursing Process Step:
Implementation MSC: NC LEX: Physiological Integrit y:
Physiological Adaptation
2. Five days after a spontaneous vaginal delivery, a woman comes to the
emergency room because she has a fever and persistent cramping. What
, does the nurse recognize as the possible cause of these signs and
s ymptoms?
a. Dehydration
b. Hypovolemic shock
c. Endometritis
d. Cystitis
ANS: C
Fever after 24 hours following delivery is suggestive of an infection.
Severe cramping and fever are manifestations of endometritis.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Anal ysis REF: Page 254 OBJ: 2
TOP: Puerperal Infections KEY: Nursing Process
Step: Data Co llection MSC: NC LEX: Physiological
Integrit y: Physiological Adaptation
3. At her 6-week postpartum checkup, a woman mentions to the nurse that
she cannot sleep and is not eating. She feels guilt y because sometimes she
believes her infant is dead. What does the nurse recognize as the cause of
this womans symptoms?
a. Bipolar disorder
b. Major depression
c. Postpartum blues
d. Postpartum depression
ANS: B
, Major depression is a disorder characterized by deep feelings of
worthlessness, guilt, serious sleep and appetite di sturbances, and
sometimes delusions about the infant being dead.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Anal ysis REF: Page 257 TOP:
Major Depression KEY: Nursing Process Step: Data Collection
MSC: NC LEX: Psychosocial Integrit y: Coping and
Adaptation
4. Three weeks afte r delivering her first child, a woman tells the nurse, I
waited so long for this baby and now that she is here, I cant believe how
different m y life is from what I expected. What is the best nursing
response to the womans statement?
a. How is your partner adj usting to the change?
b. I hear this from a lot of first -time mothers.
c. Have you told anyone else about your feelings?
d. Tell me how things are different.
ANS: D
The nurse may help the woman by being a sympathetic listener. The
nurse should elicit the new moth ers feelings about motherhood and her
infant.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: Page 257 TOP:
Disorders of Mood KEY: Nursing Process Step:
Implementation MSC: NC LEX: Psychosocial Integrit y: Coping
and Adaptation
