Question

The nurse is monitoring the amount of lochia drainage in a client who is 2 hours postpartum and notes that the client has saturated a perineal pad in 1 hour. How should the nurse document this finding?

1. Scant
2. Light
3. Heavy
4. Excessive

Answer 1

The nurse should document this finding as heavy lochia drainage. If the client saturates a perineal pad in 1 hour after giving birth, it indicates heavy lochia drainage, which requires further assessment.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should document this finding as heavy lochia drainage. Lochia is the postpartum vaginal discharge that occurs after giving birth. The nurse measures the amount of lochia by assessing how quickly the client saturates a perineal pad. If the client saturates a pad in 1 hour, it indicates heavy lochia drainage, which is a cause for concern and requires further assessment by the nurse.