Question

A nurse is preparing to assess the uterine fundus of a client in the immediate postpartum period. After locating the fundus, the nurse notes that the uterus feels soft and boggy. Which nursing intervention would be most appropriate?

A. Encourage the client to empty her bladder
B. Administer an oxytocin infusion
C. Instruct the client to perform Kegel exercises
D. Apply an ice pack to the perineum

Answer 1

The most appropriate nursing intervention for a uterus that feels soft and boggy postpartum is to administer an oxytocin infusion to stimulate uterine contractions and aid in the process of involution.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a nurse finds that the uterus feels soft and boggy in a postpartum client, the most appropriate nursing intervention is administering an oxytocin infusion. A soft and boggy uterus indicates that it is not contracting properly, which may lead to postpartum hemorrhage due to the remaining fragments of the placenta in the uterus. Oxytocin, a medication, helps to stimulate uterine contractions, promoting the process of involution, where the uterus returns to its pre-pregnancy size and location. Interventions such as encouraging the client to empty her bladder, instructing the client to perform Kegel exercises, or applying an ice pack to the perineum, might also be appropriate in the broader care plan, but they are not the first-line interventions for a boggy uterus.