Learn about IV medication administration in labor and delivery units, including monitoring both mother and fetus for safety and effectiveness.

The nurse in a labor and delivery unit is teaching a student nurse about IV medication administration. Which statement(s) by the student nurse indicate(s) understanding of the education? Select all that apply. 

A. “Some medications, like oxytocin and magnesium sulfate, should be given by IV pump.” 

B. “Tocolytics, like magnesium sulfate, are given to induce or augment labor.” 

C. “Since the IV pump is programmed to administer oxytocin in milliunits per minute, the nurse does not need to verify the dose.”

D. “Within the first 15 minutes of infusing oxytocin through the IV pump, it’s important to have a second nurse check the pump setting to ensure it’s set correctly.” E. “Both the pregnant patient and fetus should be monitored closely before, during, and after IV medication is given.”

Scroll down for the correct answer!

The correct answers to today’s NCLEX-RN® Question are…

A. “Some medications, like oxytocin and magnesium sulfate, should be given by IV pump.” 

Rationale: High-alert medications, including oxytocin and magnesium sulfate, should be given by IV pump to ensure the correct dose is administered. High-alert medications can cause significant harm to the pregnant patient and fetus if given incorrectly.

E. “Both the pregnant patient and fetus should be monitored closely before, during, and after IV medication is given.”

Rationale: Medications administered during labor affect both the pregnant patient and the fetus(es), so it is important to monitor the patient for the desired effect as well as side effects. Monitoring typically includes measuring the pregnant patient’s vital signs and uterine activity as well as monitoring continuous fetal heart rate and pattern.

Major Takeaway

Administration of IV medications in labor and delivery patients requires the nurse to correctly calculate the concentration of the solution, infusion rates, and titration factors. Typical IV medications given include uterotonic agents, such as oxytocin, to induce or augment labor and reduce bleeding after delivery, as well as tocolytic agents, such as magnesium sulfate, to slow preterm labor and reduce seizure risk in preeclampsia. The nurse should monitor both the pregnant patient and fetus(es) while administering high-alert medications to evaluate the effectiveness of medications given and ensure no harm is caused. 

Incorrect answer explanations

B. “Tocolytics, like magnesium sulfate, are given to induce or augment labor.” 

Rationale: Tocolytics, like magnesium sulfate and terbutaline, are medications given to decrease uterine muscle tone and slow contractions. They are given to stop preterm labor and reduce seizure risk in preeclampsia.  

C. “Since the IV pump is programmed to administer oxytocin in milliunits per minute, the nurse does not need to verify the dose.”

Rationale: Some IV pumps can be programmed for frequently used medications and will show infusion rates by both volume, such as milliliters per hour, and dose, such as milliunits per minute. However, the nurse should always calculate oxytocin infusion rates to check that the pump is programmed correctly.

D. “Within the first 15 minutes of infusing oxytocin through the IV pump, it’s important to have a second nurse check the pump setting to ensure it’s set correctly.”

Rationale: All high-alert IV medications, including oxytocin, should be checked by another nurse before the infusion is started for the correct calculation, medication, and IV pump setting.

                                                         ________________________

Want more NCLEX®-style practice questions? Try Osmosis by Elsevier today! Access your free trial and find out why millions of current and future clinicians and caregivers love learning with us.


Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *