Question

Monica is a 26 year old, G1P0, 38 week pregnant nursing student at Keiser Career College! She has been studying very hard lately for her ATI exam. For the past two days she has been having really bad headaches, blurry vision, and feels “fat”. She weighs herself and sees that she is 12lbs heavier than two weeks ago and sees her face and hands very puffy! Her OB just told her that she has PRE-ECLAMPSIA and has been sent to the hospital for bed rest.

• What is Pre-Eclampsia?

• How may this diagnosis affect the rest of her pregnancy? Her home life/ emotional/ financial/ sexual needs?

• What medications may be ordered to treat her pre-eclampsia? What antidote should you have at her bedside as well?

• Describe the condition of her hospital room. As the LPN, you are helping the RN watch Monica's condition closely. •What physical findings are you assessing her for probably hourly?

• Which changes in her assessment would you report to her doctor immediately???

• How will having pre-eclampsia affect the delivery of her baby?

• What concerns might you have about her delivery?

• What will her postpartum recovery be like afterwards?

• As her postpartum nurse, describe your plan of care for her including any medications/ labs/ nursing diagnoses that you feel may be relevant.

Answer 1

1.Pre-Eclampsia:A potentially dangerous pregnancy complication characterised by high blood pressure.Pre-eclampsia usually begins after 20 weeks of pregnancy in a woman whose blood pressure had been normal.It can lead to serious ,even fatal complications for both mother and baby. 2.Pre-eclampsia affects the arteries carrying blood to the placenta.If the placenta doesn't get enough blood ,baby may receive inadequate blood and oxygen and fewer nutrients.This can lead to slow growth known as fetal growth restriction,low birth weight or pre-term birth.For mother,s health severe pre-eclampsia may cause symptoms such as hypertension,protenuria , cerebral edema and long term neuro cognitive dysfunction.    3.The drug of choice for the prevention and control of meternal seizures in patients with severe preeclampsia is IV magnesium sulfate.antidote is calcium gluconate 10%, IV push 10 ML over 3 minutes 4.severe head ache,changes in vision,including temperory loss of vision blurred vision or light sensitivity,upper abdominal pain usually under ribs on the right side.Nausea or vomiting decreased urine output ,shortness of breath,caused by fluid in lungs