QUESTION: "A 32-year-old primigravida at 39 weeks' gestation is admitted to the hospital in active labor accompanied by her husband. While the nurse performs Leopold's maneuvers, the client asks why these maneuvers are being done. The nurse explains that the major purpose of these manuevers is to determine which of the following?"
CHOICES
( O ) a.) Fetal presentation.
( X ) b.) A multifetal pregnancy.
( X ) c.) Estimated gestational age.
( X ) d.) Intensity of contractions.
RATIONALE: Leopold's maneuvers, four techniques of abdominal palpation performed between contractions and after the client empties her bladder, assist in identifying fetal presentation and position. Leopold's maneuvers are often performed before initial auscultation of the fetal heart rate. In certain situations, the maneuvers can determine deviations, such as multifetal pregnancy. However, this condition is usually confirmed through ultrasound procedures. Leopold's maneuvers are not used to determine estimated gestational age. Estimated gestational age is determined by ultrasound. Leopold's maneuvers do not determine contraction intensity because they are performed between contractions. Rather contraction intensity is determined by palpation and electronic uterine monitoring. NURSING PROCESS STEP: Implementation CLIENT NEEDS CATEGORY: Health promotion and maintenance CLIENT NEEDS SUBCATEGORY: None
