Question

The nursing student is assigned to care for a client in the postpartum unit. The coassigned nurse asks the student to identify the most objective method to assess the amount of lochial flow in the client. Which statement, if made by the student, indicates an understanding of this method?

1. I can estimate the amount of blood loss by gauging the amount of staining on a perineal pad.
2. I should ask the client to keep a record and document every time the perineal pad is changed.
3. I should weigh the perineal pad before and after use and note the amount of time between each pad change.
4. I can look at the perineal pad and gauge the amount of staining and relate it to the amount of time between pad changes.

Answer 1

The most objective method to assess the amount of lochial flow in a client is to weigh the perineal pad before and after use and note the amount of time between each pad change.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most objective method to assess the amount of lochial flow in a client is to weigh the perineal pad before and after use and note the amount of time between each pad change. This method provides a quantitative measurement of the amount of lochia and can help determine if there is excessive bleeding or changes in the amount of flow over time. Estimating the amount of blood loss by gauging the amount of staining on a perineal pad or looking at the perineal pad and gauging the amount of staining are subjective methods and may not provide an accurate measurement. Asking the client to keep a record and document every time the perineal pad is changed can be helpful, but it is not as objective as weighing the pad.