1. Collect a urine specimen for culture and sensitivity
✔️ Anticipated
🔹 In a client with severe preeclampsia, urine analysis is essential to monitor proteinuria, which is a key diagnostic indicator of renal involvement and disease progression.
🔹 Although the current findings already show 3+ proteinuria, continued assessment helps monitor worsening renal function and guides treatment decisions.
🔹 It also helps rule out urinary tract infection, which can worsen hypertensive complications.
2. Administer magnesium sulfate 4 g IV bolus
✔️ Anticipated
🔹 Magnesium sulfate is the drug of choice to prevent seizures (eclampsia) in clients with severe preeclampsia.
🔹 The client’s symptoms—headache, blurred vision, hyperreflexia (DTRs 3+), and hypertension (172/104 mmHg)—indicate severe CNS irritability and risk for seizures.
🔹 A 4 g IV bolus followed by maintenance infusion helps stabilize neuromuscular excitability and reduce cerebral edema.
3. Tell the client to lie in a supine position
❌ Contraindicated
🔹 The supine position can compress the inferior vena cava, leading to supine hypotensive syndrome, which reduces placental perfusion and worsens fetal oxygenation.
🔹 The preferred position is the left lateral (side-lying) to enhance uteroplacental blood flow and reduce edema.
4. Monitor blood pressure and respiratory status every 15 min
✔️ Anticipated
🔹 Frequent monitoring is critical for early detection of complications such as hypertensive crisis or magnesium sulfate toxicity (respiratory depression <12 breaths/min).
🔹 The client already has severe hypertension and abnormal labs (low platelets, elevated creatinine & uric acid, and proteinuria), making close monitoring essential for maternal and fetal safety.
🔹 Continuous observation also guides timely interventions, including antihypertensives or preparation for possible emergency delivery.