Question

A nurse is preparing to perform Leopold maneuvers for a client. Identify the sequence the nurse should follow. (Move the steps into the box on the right, placing them in the order of performance. Use all the steps

A) Place hands on the client's abdomen to palpate the presenting part.
B) Determine which fetal part is located in the fundal area.
C) Palpate the cephalic prominence or brow.
D) Identify the location of the fetal back.

Answer 1

To perform Leopold maneuvers, the nurse should first locate the fetal back, then identify the part in the fundal area, palpate the presenting part, and finally palpate the cephalic prominence.

Step-by-step explanation:

The sequence the nurse should follow when performing Leopold maneuvers is:

1. Identify the location of the fetal back
2. Determine which fetal part is located in the fundal area
3. Place hands on the client's abdomen to palpate the presenting part
4. Palpate the cephalic prominence or brow

Leopold maneuvers are a systematic way for the healthcare professional to assess the position and presentation of the fetus inside the uterus. First, the nurse or practitioner feels for the fetal back which will feel smooth compared to the knees and elbows. Next, they assess the fundus of the uterus to determine if the head or the buttocks are present here. Following this, the presenting part is palpated above the pubic symphysis to distinguish if the fetus is in a cephalic (head first) or breech (buttocks/feet first) position. Finally, palpation of the cephalic prominence helps in confirming if the fetus is in a face or brow presentation, which can have implications for the mode of delivery.