Question

A woman, 24 hours after giving birth, complains to the nurse that her sleep was interrupted the night before because of sweating and the need to have her gown and bed linen changed. The nurse's first action would be to:

a. Assess this woman for additional clinical manifestations of infection.
b. Explain to the woman that the sweating represents her body's attempt to eliminate the fluid that was accumulated during pregnancy.
c. Notify her physician of the finding.
d. Document the finding as postpartum diaphoresis.

Answer 1

The nurse's first action should be to assess the woman for additional clinical manifestations of infection, ruling out any signs of infectious processes before considering the sweating as normal postpartum diaphoresis due to hormonal and fluid changes.

Step-by-step explanation:

The action of a nurse when a woman, 24 hours after giving birth, complains of interrupted sleep due to sweating and the need to change her gown and bed linen would be to assess the woman for additional clinical manifestations of infection. While postpartum diaphoresis, or excessive sweating, can be normal as the body attempts to rid itself of excess fluids accumulated during pregnancy, it is crucial first to rule out the possibility of an infection. Factors that may contribute to postpartum sweating include the sudden hormonal shifts and fluid balance adjustments that occur after delivery. On the other hand, signs of infection could include fever, increased heart rate, malaise, or an abnormal smelling lochia. Therefore, before taking further steps, the nurse must first assess for any other symptoms that might indicate an infectious process.