Practice Question
A nurse is caring for a client who is at 32 weeks of gestation and has complete placenta previa
Answer Choices:
Correct Answer:
Fetal heart rate
Rationale:
✅Fetal Heart Rate (174/min) — Requires Immediate Follow-Up
🔴 Tachycardia (FHR >160 bpm) may indicate fetal distress from hypoxia or blood loss.
🔴 In the presence of bleeding, this is a red flag that the fetus may be compromised.
🔴 Requires continuous fetal monitoring and urgent evaluation by the provider.
✅ Hemoglobin (Hgb) — Requires Immediate Follow-Up
🩸 Low Hgb can reflect significant maternal blood loss due to placenta previa.
🩸 Maternal anemia impairs oxygen delivery to the fetus and increases the risk of preterm complications.
🩸 Needs prompt lab review to assess for need for iron therapy or blood transfusion.
✅ Hematocrit (Hct) — Requires Immediate Follow-Up
🧪 Decreased hematocrit supports evidence of acute or chronic blood loss.
🧪 Combined with bleeding and fetal tachycardia, low Hct could suggest hemodynamic instability.
🧪 Should be monitored serially and used to guide volume replacement decisions.
✅ Vaginal Bleeding — Requires Immediate Follow-Up
🚨 Bright red bleeding in complete placenta previa is always an emergency.
🚨 Even moderate bleeding can progress quickly to hemorrhage and preterm labor.
🚨 Requires immediate provider notification, bed rest, and preparation for possible preterm delivery.
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This question is from RN Maternal Newborn 2023 which contains 62 questions.
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Question Details
- Category: RN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: General Exams
- Domain: 🤱🏼Maternity & Newborn Care
- Answer Choices: 7