Nursing Management of the Postpartum Woman at Risk

Which of the following assessments would lead you to believe a postpartal woman is developing a urinary complication? a) Her perineum is obviously edematous on inspection. b) At 8 hours postdelivery she has voided a total of 100 mL in four small voidings. c) She has voided a total of 1000 mL in two voidings, each spaced 1 hour apart. d) She tells you she is extremely thirsty. - CORRECT ANSWER b) At 8 hours postdelivery she has voided a total of 100 mL in four small voidings. Explanation: Postpartal women who void in small amounts may be experiencing bladder overflow from retention Which of the following would the nurse use to monitor the effectiveness of intravenous anticoagulant therapy for a postpartum woman with deep vein thrombosis? a) Activated partial thromboplastin time b) Prothrombin time c) Platelet level d) Fibrinogen level - CORRECT ANSWER a)Activated partial thromboplastin time Explanation: The activated partial thromboplastin time is used to monitor the effectiveness of intravenous anticoagulant therapy, most commonly heparin. Prothrombin time is used to monitor the effectiveness of the oral anticoagulant warfarin. Although platelets and fibrinogen are involved in blood clotting, they are not used to monitor the effectiveness of intravenous anticoagulant therapy.