Question

The nurse is assessing a client who is 6 hours PP after delivering a full-term healthy infant. The client complains to the nurse of feelings of faintness and dizziness. Which of the following nursing actions would be most appropriate?

1.Obtain hemoglobin and hematocrit levels
2.Instruct the mother to request help when getting out of bed
3.Elevate the mother's legs
4.Inform the nursery room nurse to avoid bringing the newborn infant to the mother until the feelings of light-headedness and dizziness have subsided.

Answer 1

The most appropriate nursing action for a postpartum client experiencing faintness and dizziness is to request help when getting out of bed. Elevating the legs and obtaining hemoglobin and hematocrit levels may also be considered.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most appropriate nursing action for the client experiencing feelings of faintness and dizziness 6 hours after delivering a full-term healthy infant would be to instruct the mother to request help when getting out of bed. This action is important to prevent falls and injuries. Elevating the mother's legs can help increase blood flow and alleviate symptoms of dizziness, but it may not be sufficient on its own. Obtaining hemoglobin and hematocrit levels would be important if there are concerns about anemia or blood loss, but it may not be the most appropriate initial action in this case. Informing the nursery room nurse to avoid bringing the newborn infant to the mother until the feelings of light-headedness and dizziness have subsided is not necessary unless there are specific concerns about the mother's ability to safely care for the newborn.