Practice Question
Which of the following would lead the nurse to suspect that a postpartum woman is experiencing a problem?
Answer Choices:
Correct Answer:
Perineal pain 8/10.
Rationale:
🔷 Severe perineal pain of 8/10 in a postpartum woman is not expected and can signal a complication, such as a perineal hematoma, infection, or wound dehiscence.
🔷 Normal discomfort is expected after birth, but unrelenting, severe, or worsening pain suggests underlying tissue damage or accumulation of blood in a confined space.
🔷 A hematoma may present with significant pain that is disproportionate to visible findings, and this pain will not be relieved by usual comfort measures.
🔷 Failure to recognize and treat this level of pain may lead to hemorrhage, infection, or impaired mobility, impacting recovery and bonding with the newborn.
🔷 Therefore, an 8/10 perineal pain score is a red flag and should prompt immediate further assessment and intervention by the nurse.
Platelet level of 200,000
🔷 This value is within the normal platelet range (about 150,000–400,000/mm³), so it does not indicate a bleeding or clotting problem by itself.
🔷 Postpartum women may have mild variations in platelet count, but 200,000 is not concerning and would not, by itself, suggest a complication.
Pulse rate of 52 beats/minute
🔷 In the early postpartum period, bradycardia (50–70 bpm) can be a normal physiologic finding due to hemodynamic changes and increased stroke volume.
🔷 Unless accompanied by other symptoms such as dizziness, hypotension, or chest pain, a pulse of 52 bpm can be considered within expected postpartum adaptation.
Elevated white blood cell count of 15,000
🔷 Postpartum women often have physiologic leukocytosis, and WBC counts up to 20,000–25,000/mm³ can be normal after delivery.
🔷 A WBC of 15,000 alone does not confirm infection and must be interpreted with other clinical signs such as fever, localized pain, or foul lochia.
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This question is from ATI Maternal Newborn which contains 27 questions.
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Question Details
- Category: RN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: ATI Exam(s)
- Domain: RN ATI Maternal & Newborn Care
- Answer Choices: 4