On the second day of clinical, August 27, 2015, I cared for three postpartal patients and one antepartal patient. All three of the postpartal patients delivered their babies vaginally, and the antepartal patient’s membranes ruptured at twenty-seven weeks and four days gestation. Fortunately, I was able to use knowledge from theory to care for four patients.
To begin, the antepartal patient that I took care of was a G2P1 due on November 12, 2015. The patient was admitted one and a half weeks prior, when her membranes ruptured. The amniotic fluid began leaking slowly, and on August 25, 2015 she experienced a gush of amniotic fluid. Fortunately, the leakage decreased back to a scant amount. The patient was on the monitor during my shift, …show more content…
Upon palpation of my patient’s fundus, I could not find it in in the middle of the abdomen. I realized that her bladder could be distended. I felt around for her fundus, and I located it above the umbilicus and to the left side. I recognized the potential for uterine atony and excessive bleeding caused by a distended bladder. I asked the patient if she felt the need to void, and she shook her head “yes”. The patient ambulated to the bathroom without difficulty and voided. Once she was back in bed, her fundus was located midline and 2 fingerbreadths below the umbilicus. Prior to the patient ambulating to the restroom, there was a scant amount of lochia rubra on her pad. After returning to bed, there was a light amount of lochia rubra on the pad. I recognized that it was normal for the pad to be more saturated after ambulation due to pooled blood in the vagina. I was relieved to know that she felt the urge to void, but I had to educate her on voiding when she felt the need to.
It is important to prevent bladder distention, because a distended bladder prevents the uterus from contracting (Lowdermilk, 2012, p. 494). According to Lowdermilk (2012, p. 494)(here instead of end of sentence), when the uterus does not contract in the postpartum period, uterine atony and excessive bleeding can occur. Preventing hemorrhage is extremely important in the postpartum period, and one nursing function that can help the uterus …show more content…
Using appropriate teaching methods enhances the learning process. Both the mother and the father were college graduates, but simple terminology was still used. Although their educational level was high, that does not mean that they were highly educated about what to expect at home with a newborn and recovering body. By talking in simple terms and providing written discharge instructions I enhanced the learning experience for both parents. The written instructions could also serve as reinforcement once the family got
To begin, the antepartal patient that I took care of was a G2P1 due on November 12, 2015. The patient was admitted one and a half weeks prior, when her membranes ruptured. The amniotic fluid began leaking slowly, and on August 25, 2015 she experienced a gush of amniotic fluid. Fortunately, the leakage decreased back to a scant amount. The patient was on the monitor during my shift, …show more content…
Upon palpation of my patient’s fundus, I could not find it in in the middle of the abdomen. I realized that her bladder could be distended. I felt around for her fundus, and I located it above the umbilicus and to the left side. I recognized the potential for uterine atony and excessive bleeding caused by a distended bladder. I asked the patient if she felt the need to void, and she shook her head “yes”. The patient ambulated to the bathroom without difficulty and voided. Once she was back in bed, her fundus was located midline and 2 fingerbreadths below the umbilicus. Prior to the patient ambulating to the restroom, there was a scant amount of lochia rubra on her pad. After returning to bed, there was a light amount of lochia rubra on the pad. I recognized that it was normal for the pad to be more saturated after ambulation due to pooled blood in the vagina. I was relieved to know that she felt the urge to void, but I had to educate her on voiding when she felt the need to.
It is important to prevent bladder distention, because a distended bladder prevents the uterus from contracting (Lowdermilk, 2012, p. 494). According to Lowdermilk (2012, p. 494)(here instead of end of sentence), when the uterus does not contract in the postpartum period, uterine atony and excessive bleeding can occur. Preventing hemorrhage is extremely important in the postpartum period, and one nursing function that can help the uterus …show more content…
Using appropriate teaching methods enhances the learning process. Both the mother and the father were college graduates, but simple terminology was still used. Although their educational level was high, that does not mean that they were highly educated about what to expect at home with a newborn and recovering body. By talking in simple terms and providing written discharge instructions I enhanced the learning experience for both parents. The written instructions could also serve as reinforcement once the family got