Obstetric Nurse Test Obstetric Nurse Pharmacology in Obstetrics 3

Question 1

A laboring patient is receiving epidural bupivacaine. She suddenly reports ringing in her ears and a metallic taste. What does the nurse suspect?

Accepted Answer

Local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST)

Answer

Tinnitus and metallic taste are early CNS signs of local anesthetic systemic toxicity from inadvertent intravascular injection.

Question 2

Terbutaline is prescribed as a tocolytic. For which patient condition would this drug be most hazardous?

Accepted Answer

Gestational diabetes

Answer

Terbutaline is a beta-2 agonist that causes hyperglycemia, making it particularly dangerous in patients with diabetes who require careful glucose management.

Question 3

A nurse administers vitamin K (phytonadione) to a newborn. What is the rationale for this injection?

Accepted Answer

Prevent hemorrhagic disease of the newborn

Answer

Newborns have insufficient intestinal bacteria to synthesize vitamin K, placing them at risk for hemorrhagic disease without prophylactic administration.

Question 4

Which medication given in labor can cause neonatal respiratory depression and is best avoided within 4 hours of anticipated delivery?

Accepted Answer

Meperidine (Demerol)

Answer

Meperidine has an active metabolite (normeperidine) that accumulates and causes prolonged neonatal respiratory depression; its peak neonatal effect occurs 2–4 hours after maternal administration.

Question 5

A patient at 37 weeks with severe preeclampsia is started on IV labetalol for blood pressure control. Which assessment finding should prompt the nurse to hold the dose?

Accepted Answer

Maternal heart rate of 52 bpm

Answer

Labetalol is a beta-blocker that can cause bradycardia; a maternal heart rate below 60 bpm is a contraindication to administering the next dose.

Obstetric Nurse Test Practice Test

Obstetric Nurse Test Practice Test

Obstetric Nurse Test Obstetric Nurse Pharmacology in Obstetrics 3