Question

A nurse is preparing to administer dinoprostone gel to a client who is pregnant. The client asks the nurse about the purpose of the medication. Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

A. Dinoprostone stimulates uterine contractions.
Rationale: This medication does not stimulate uterine contractions. Medications such as oxytocin stimulate uterine contractions.
B. Dinoprostone assists with ending the pregnancy.
Rationale: This medication does not cause a client to abort a fetus. Medications such as misoprostol cause the client to abort the pregnancy.
C. Dinoprostone promotes softening of the cervix.
Rationale: Dinoprostone is used to prepare or soften the cervix for the induction of labor in pregnant clients who are at or near term.
D. Dinoprostone relaxes uterine contractions.
Rationale: This medication is not used to relax uterine contractions. Tocolytics relax uterine contractions.

Answer 1

Dinoprostone gel is used to promote softening of the cervix to prepare for induction of labor in pregnant clients who are near term. It does not directly stimulate uterine contractions like oxytocin.

Step-by-step explanation:

The purpose of dinoprostone gel in pregnant clients is to promote the softening of the cervix, preparing it for the induction of labor, especially in scenarios where the pregnancy has reached or is near term and labor needs to be induced. Unlike oxytocin, which stimulates uterine contractions, dinoprostone works more subtly by preparing the cervix rather than initiating contractions directly. It should be noted that during the physiological process of labor, the body naturally produces prostaglandins, which along with oxytocin, play a significant role in stimulating uterine contractions. However, dinoprostone does not aim to stimulate or enhance uterine contractions in the same way as prostaglandins produced by the body during labor.