Question

The nurse assesses a patient whose cervix is dilated to 5 cm. What phase of labor does the nurse recognize the woman to be in?

a. Latent phase
b. Active phase
c. Second stage
d. Third stage

Answer 1

The woman is in the active phase of labor where the cervix dilates from 4 to 7 centimeters, which is part of the first stage of labor.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse would recognize the woman to be in the active phase of labor. This is the period during the first stage of labor when the cervix dilates from about 4 to 7 centimeters. Cervical dilation is a critical process that allows for the eventual passage of the baby through the birth canal. It is important to note that complete dilation to 10 cm will occur by the end of the first stage, allowing for the transition to the second stage, where the baby is expelled from the uterus, and then followed by the third stage, which includes the delivery of the placenta.