SAUNDERS ATI PHARMACOLOGY STUDY GUIDE
Week 1: Chapter 35 “Maternity and Newborn Medications”
Questions Answers and Rationales
1. The nurse is
... [Show More] monitoring a client who
is receiving oxytocin (Pitocin) to
induce labor. Which assessment
finding would cause the nurse to
immediately discontinue the
oxytocin infusion?
1. Fatigue
2. Drowsiness
3. Uterine hyperstimulation
4. Early decelerations of the fetal heart rate
Rationale: Often used to induce labor. High doses are
often used for uterine hyperstimulation & C/S births.
ADVERSE EFFECTS: Hyperstimulation of uterine
contractions & non-reassuring fetal HR
DISCONTINUE
2. A pregnant client is receiving
magnesium sulfate for the
management of preeclampsia. The
nurse determines that the client is
experiencing toxicity from the
medication if which finding is noted
on assessment?
1. Proteinuria of 3 +
2. Respirations of 10 breaths/ minute
3. Presence of deep tendon reflexes
4. Serum magnesium level of 6 mEq/ L
Rationale: Mg TOXICITY RESP. DEPRESSION, LOSS OF
TENDON REFLEXES & SUDDEN DECLINE IN FETAL HR,
MATERNAL HR, & BP caused by Mg tx. Must remain
within therapeutic serum levels 4–7.5 mEq/L.
Proteinuria 3+ is expected in a pt w/ preeclampsia.
3. The nurse is monitoring a client in
preterm labor who is receiving
intravenous magnesium sulfate. The
nurse should monitor for which
adverse effects of this medication?
Select all that apply.
1. Flushing
2. Hypertension
3. Increased urine output
4. Depressed respirations
5. Extreme muscle weakness
6. Hyperactive deep tendon reflexes
Rationale: Mg sulfate is a CNS depressant that relaxes
smooth muscles like the uterus. It’s used to STOP
preterm labor contractions and for preeclampsia pts.
to PREVENT SEIZURES. ADVERSE EFFECTS:
Flushing
Depressed respirations
Depressed deep tendon reflexes
Hypotension
Extreme muscle weakness
Decreased urine output
Pulmonary Edema
Elevated Mg serum levels
4. The nurse instructor asks a nursing
student to describe the procedure for
administering erythromycin ointment
to the eyes of a newborn. Which
student statement indicates that
further teaching is needed?
1. “I will flush the eyes after instilling the ointment?”
2. “I will clean the newborn’s eyes before instilling
ointment.”
3. “I need to administer the eye ointment within 1 hr.
after delivery.”
4. “I will instill the eye ointment into each of the NB’s
conjunctiva sacs.”
Rationale: Eye prophylaxis protects the NB against
Neisseria gonorrhea & Chlamydia trachomatis. The
eyes are NOT FLUSHED AFTER INSTILLATION of med
because the flush would WASH AWAY the administered [Show Less]