Today’s NCLEX-RN® question of the day focuses on preeclampsia. Do you know the answer? Let’s find out!
The nurse is preparing to assess a pregnant patient for preeclampsia. Which clinical finding should the nurse associate with the condition?
A. Right lower quadrant pain
B. Blood pressure over 132/84 mm Hg
C. Scotoma
D. Hyporeflexia
Scroll down for the correct answer!
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The correct answer to today’s NCLEX-RN® Question is…
C. Scotoma
Rationale: Scotoma, or seeing spots and other visual changes such as blurred vision or diplopia, is a clinical finding associated with preeclampsia.
Main Takeaway
Clinical manifestations of preeclampsia and eclampsia can vary but include hypertension, defined as systolic blood pressure over 140 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure over 90 mmHg, or both. Most patients also develop proteinuria, and some might develop dyspnea due to pulmonary edema. Feature characteristics of severe disease are defined as having systolic blood pressure over 160 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure over 110 mmHg; or signs of end-organ damage, such as decreased urinary output, which can indicate renal damage; jaundice and right upper quadrant or epigastric pain, which can indicate liver damage; and visual disturbances, such as blurry or double vision; scotomata, which means seeing spots as well as a headache, confusion, drowsiness, numbness, and tingling, or hyperreflexia. Finally, if preeclampsia progresses to eclampsia, the patient can develop seizures, which can occur before, during, or after labor.
Incorrect Answer Explanations
A. Right lower quadrant pain
Rationale: Jaundice and right upper quadrant, rather than right lower quadrant, or epigastric pain can indicate liver damage and is a clinical finding associated with preeclampsia.
B. Blood pressure over 132/84 mm Hg
Rationale: Clinical manifestations of preeclampsia are systolic blood pressure over 140 mm Hg, diastolic blood pressure over 90 mm Hg, or both.
D. Hyporeflexia
Rationale: Hyperreflexia, rather than hyporeflexia, is a clinical finding related to preeclampsia. Hyperreflexia is associated with an increased risk for eclampsia or seizures due to the overreaction of the autonomic nervous system.
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