Question

The new mother had spinal anesthesia during a cesarean delivery. She now has a desire to void and can wiggle her toes. If she wants to go to the bathroom, the nurse should:

1) assess her blood pressure.
2) obtain a wheelchair.
3) palpate her bladder.
4) put slippers on her feet.

Answer 1

The nurse should palpate the new mother's bladder to determine if she needs assistance to the bathroom.

Step-by-step explanation:

Based on the information provided, the new mother who had spinal anesthesia during a cesarean delivery and now has a desire to void and can wiggle her toes should have her bladder palpated by the nurse. Palpating the bladder involves gently pressing on the lower abdomen to feel for a full bladder. This helps determine if the mother needs to be assisted to the bathroom or if other interventions are necessary.

Assessing her blood pressure is not directly related to her desire to void and wiggling her toes. Obtaining a wheelchair and putting slippers on her feet could be done after determining her need to go to the bathroom, but they are not the initial steps to take.