The Five P's
These are the five factors that determine the progress of labor.
What are Passenger, Passageway, Powers, Position, and Psychology?
This is the first sign that true labor has begun.
What is cervical change (dilation and effacement)?
These are the three characteristics used to assess uterine contractions.
What are frequency, duration, and intensity?
These four key questions should always be asked when a pregnant patient presents to triage.
What are How far along are you? Has your water broken? Is the baby moving? Are you having vaginal bleeding?
A patient suddenly states, "I need to push!" Your priority nursing action is this.
What is check the cervix for complete dilation?
This is the optimal fetal presentation for vaginal birth.
What is cephalic (vertex)?
Active labor begins at this cervical dilation.
What is 6 cm?
This type of contraction causes cervical dilation and effacement.
What is a true labor contraction?
Bright red vaginal bleeding is present. The nurse should avoid performing this assessment.
What is a sterile vaginal examination (cervical exam)?
A laboring patient has more than five contractions in 10 minutes. This is called what?
What is uterine tachysystole?
This fetal lie cannot be delivered vaginally.
What is a transverse lie?
These are the seven cardinal movements of labor.
What are engagement, descent, flexion, internal rotation, extension, restitution/external rotation, and expulsion?
These contractions occur during pregnancy but do not change the cervix.
What are Braxton Hicks contractions?
This bedside test turns blue or green if the membranes have ruptured.
What is the Nitrazine test?
A sudden fetal heart rate drop immediately after membrane rupture makes the nurse suspect this emergency.
What is umbilical cord prolapse?
This pelvic type is considered the most favorable for vaginal delivery.
What is a gynecoid pelvis?
This stage of labor begins with complete cervical dilation and ends with delivery of the baby.
What is the second stage of labor?
This pushing method is encouraged instead of the Valsalva maneuver.
What is open-glottis pushing ("moose" breathing)?
This maneuver is used to determine fetal position by abdominal palpation.
What are Leopold's maneuvers?
List the four immediate intrauterine resuscitation interventions for a non-reassuring fetal heart tracing.
What are stop Pitocin, turn to the left side, administer oxygen, and give an IV fluid bolus?
This fetal position is considered ideal for vaginal birth.
What is left occiput anterior (LOA)?
This reflex causes the uncontrollable urge to push when the fetal head presses on the pelvic floor.
What is the Ferguson reflex (fetal ejection reflex)?
Gap junctions and increasing sensitivity to this hormone make the uterus more contractile near labor.
What is oxytocin?
A patient in labor with unknown GBS status should receive this antibiotic if she tests positive.
What is ampicillin?
A patient has sudden severe abdominal pain, persistent vaginal bleeding, and fetal distress. What obstetric emergency should the nurse suspect?
What is placental abruption?