What is a priority nursing action when caring for placental abruption?

What is a priority nursing action when caring for placental abruption?

• A. Assess fetal heart rate
• B. Administer daily vitamins
• C. Encourage exercise
• D. Delay delivery

Answer: (A)

In placental abruption, the most urgent concern is the fetus’s oxygenation and well-being. Monitoring the fetal heart rate tells you whether the fetus is tolerating the event or showing signs of distress that would require rapid intervention, including preparing for delivery if needed. Continuous or frequent fetal monitoring helps detect nonreassuring patterns early so clinicians can act quickly to protect both mother and baby. The other actions don’t address the emergency at hand: giving daily vitamins doesn’t influence bleeding or fetal oxygenation; encouraging exercise could worsen bleeding and the situation; delaying delivery is typically unsafe when there are signs of fetal distress or ongoing hemorrhage. Monitoring fetal heart rate directly informs the immediate treatment plan.

In placental abruption, the most urgent concern is the fetus’s oxygenation and well-being. Monitoring the fetal heart rate tells you whether the fetus is tolerating the event or showing signs of distress that would require rapid intervention, including preparing for delivery if needed. Continuous or frequent fetal monitoring helps detect nonreassuring patterns early so clinicians can act quickly to protect both mother and baby.

The other actions don’t address the emergency at hand: giving daily vitamins doesn’t influence bleeding or fetal oxygenation; encouraging exercise could worsen bleeding and the situation; delaying delivery is typically unsafe when there are signs of fetal distress or ongoing hemorrhage. Monitoring fetal heart rate directly informs the immediate treatment plan.