💉 Oxytocin (Pitocin)
✅ Correct Nursing Actions
Monitor the length, strength, and duration of contractions
Ensure the client has an empty bladder before administration
💉 Oxytocin (Pitocin) is a synthetic hormone used to induce or augment labor and to manage postpartum hemorrhage by stimulating uterine contractions.
💉 Continuous monitoring of the frequency, duration, and intensity of contractions is essential because excessive uterine activity can lead to uterine tachysystole, fetal distress, or uterine rupture.
💉 Close observation allows the nurse to promptly identify non-reassuring fetal heart rate patterns related to excessive contractions.
💉 Ensuring the client has an empty bladder is important because a distended bladder can interfere with uterine contraction efficiency and slow labor progress.
💉 Proper bladder management also reduces discomfort and supports effective uterine response to oxytocin.
💉 Incorrect Option: Administer intravaginally for cervical ripening
💉 Oxytocin is administered IV, not intravaginally.
💉 Prostaglandins are used for cervical ripening.
🌿 Prostaglandin (Carboprost / Hemabate)
✅ Correct Nursing Action
Monitor for nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
🌿 Carboprost (Hemabate) is a prostaglandin F2α used to treat postpartum hemorrhage caused by uterine atony.
🌿 Prostaglandins strongly stimulate smooth muscle contraction, including the uterus and gastrointestinal tract.
🌿 As a result, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramping are very common adverse effects.
🌿 The nurse must closely monitor fluid status and electrolyte balance due to the risk of fluid loss from GI symptoms.
🌿 Early recognition of these effects helps prevent dehydration and supports patient comfort and safety.
🌿 Incorrect Option: Ensure the client has a full bladder before administration
🌿 A full bladder does not enhance medication effectiveness.
🌿 Bladder distention can actually impair uterine contraction.
🌿 Incorrect Option: Administer orally for preeclampsia
🌿 Carboprost is administered IM, not orally.
🌿 It is not used to treat preeclampsia.
🔥 Misoprostol (Cytotec)
✅ Correct Nursing Actions
Administer IM for postpartum hemorrhage
Keep client in supine position with lateral tilt for 30 minutes after administration
🔥 Misoprostol is a prostaglandin E1 analog used to prevent or treat postpartum hemorrhage by promoting uterine contraction.
🔥 It can be administered IM, oral, rectal, or vaginally, depending on the clinical indication and protocol.
🔥 Maintaining the client in a supine position with lateral tilt allows optimal uterine response and medication absorption while preventing supine hypotensive syndrome.
🔥 This positioning also promotes uterine tone and reduces the risk of ongoing bleeding.
🔥 Close monitoring following administration is essential to assess uterine firmness and bleeding response.
🔥 Incorrect Option: Avoid use in clients with a history of liver disease
🔥 Liver disease is not a primary contraindication for misoprostol.
🔥 The major concern is uterine hyperstimulation in pregnancy.
🩺 Methylergonovine Maleate (Methergine)
✅ Correct Nursing Action
Monitor for manifestations of hypertensive crisis
🩺 Methylergonovine (Methergine) is an ergot alkaloid that causes strong, sustained uterine contractions to control postpartum hemorrhage.
🩺 It also produces systemic vasoconstriction, which can significantly elevate blood pressure.
🩺 Clients receiving this medication are at risk for hypertensive crisis, including severe headache, chest pain, visual changes, and stroke.
🩺 Continuous monitoring of blood pressure and cardiovascular status is essential.
🩺 The medication is contraindicated in clients with hypertension or preeclampsia due to this risk.
🩺 Incorrect Option: Encourage PO intake of grapefruit juice
🩺 Grapefruit juice can increase drug levels and worsen adverse effects.
🩺 It should be avoided.
🩺 Incorrect Option: Administer IV before passage of placenta
🩺 Methergine is never given IV due to severe vasospasm risk.
🩺 It is given after placental delivery only.