Question

A nurse is caring for a client who has maternal hypotension following the placement of an epidural. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Option 1: Administer a vasoconstrictor medication
Option 2: Increase the epidural dosage
Option 3: Encourage increased fluid intake
Option 4: Administer a muscle relaxant

Answer 1

For maternal hypotension following epidural placement, increasing fluid intake is an appropriate action, but a vasoconstrictor medication may be needed. Increasing epidural dose or administering muscle relaxants is not advised.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse caring for a client with maternal hypotension after the placement of an epidural should encourage increased fluid intake. Hypotension can occur due to decreased vascular resistance from the epidural, and increasing fluids can help restore blood pressure by improving venous return and cardiac output.

Administering a vasoconstrictor medication may also be appropriate under medical guidance as it helps increase vascular resistance and blood pressure. Increasing the epidural dosage would likely worsen hypotension, and administering a muscle relaxant is counterproductive in this situation.