Question

A nurse is caring for a client who is anemic at 32 weeks of gestation and is in preterm labor. The provider prescribed betamethasone 12 mg IM. Which of the following outcomes should the nurse expect?

A. Increased fetal heart rate
B. Reduced respiratory distress syndrome risk
C. Elevated maternal blood pressure
D. Decreased uterine contractions

Answer 1

The nurse should expect a reduced risk of respiratory distress syndrome for the client's baby when administering betamethasone 12 mg IM.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should expect a reduced risk of respiratory distress syndrome for the client's baby when administering betamethasone 12 mg IM. Betamethasone is a corticosteroid that helps mature the baby's lungs and produce surfactant, a substance necessary for proper lung function. By promoting lung maturation, betamethasone can decrease the risk of respiratory distress syndrome, which is common in preterm infants.