OB Medications(Correct answers)
Magnesium Sulfate correct answersClassification: Electrolyte; anticonvulsant
Action: CNS depressant; relaxes smooth muscles including uterus
Dose/Route: IV fluid should contain 40g in 1,000 mL, piggyback primary to infusion; administer
using controller pump
Frequency: loading dose- 4-6g over 20-30 min; maintenance dose- 1-4 g/hr
Side effects: hot flushes, sweating, burning at the IV insertion site, nausea and vomiting, dry
mouth, drowsiness, blurred vision, diplopia, headache, ileus, generalized muscle weakness,
lethargy, dizziness
Nursing Considerations: assess woman and fetus to obtain baseline before beginning therapy and
then before and after each incremental change; follow frequency of agency protocol
-monitor serum magnesium levels with higher doses; therapeutic range is between 4 and 7.5
mEq/L or 5-8 mg/dL
-discontinue infusion and notify physician if intolerable adverse affects occur
-ensure that calcium gluconate 1 g (10 mL of 10% solution) or calcium chloride (normal dose is
500 mg IV infused over 30 min) is available for emergency administration to reverse magnesium
sulfate toxicity
-should not be given to women with myasthenia gravis.
-total IV intake should be limited to 125 mL/hr
Erythromycin Ointment correct answersClass: antiinfective
Action: these antibiotic ointments are both bacteriostatic and bactericidal; they provide
prophylaxis against ophthalmia neonatorum
Dose/Route: neonatal dose- apply 1 to 2 cm ribbon of ointment to the lower conjunctival sac of
each eye; can also be used in drop form
Side effects: can cause chemical conjunctivitis that last 24 to 48 hrs; vision can be blurred
temporarily
Indication: used to prevent ophthalmia neonatorum in newborns of mothers who are infected
with gonorrhea and chlamydia
Nursing considerations: Administer within 1 to 2 hours of birth. Wear gloves. Cleanse the eyes if
necessary before administration. Open the eyes by putting a thumb and finger at the corner of
each lid and gently pressing on the periorbital ridges. Squeeze the tube and spread the ointment
from the inner canthus of the eye to the outer canthus. Do not touch the tube to the eye. After 1
minute, excess ointment may be wiped off. Observe eyes for irritation. Explain the treatment to
the parents.
, Ibuprofen correct answersName: motrin, advil, nuprin, motrin IB
Class: nonsteroidal antiinflammatory
Action: decrease pain, inflammation, and fever
Dose/Route: oral; 400 mg q 6-8 hr, 200 mg q 4-6 hr up to 1200 mg/day
Side effects: Nausea, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal distress, dyspepsia, heartburn, flatulence,
dizziness, tinnitus, itching, rash
Contraindications: For all NSAIDs: Do not give if woman has hemophilia or bleeding ulcers; do
not give if woman has had an allergic or anaphylactic reaction to aspirin or another NSAID; do
not give if woman is taking anticoagulant medication
Oxytocin (Pitocin) correct answersClass: oxytocin hormone
Action: Contraction of uterus; decreases bleeding
Dose/Route: 10 to 80 units/L diluted in lactated Ringer's solution or normal saline at 125 to 200
milliunits/min IV; or 10 to 20 units IM
Side effects: Infrequent: water intoxication, nausea and vomiting
Contraindications: none for postpartum hemorrhage
Nursing Considerations: continue to monitor vaginal bleeding and uterine tone
Morphine correct answersName: duramorph
Class: opioid analgesic
Action: depresses pain impulse transmission at the spinal cord level by interacting with opioid
receptors
Dose/Route: PO 10-30 mg q4hr prn
Side effects: dizziness, confusion, sedation, constipation
Contraindications: hypersensitivity, addiction, hemorrhage, bronchial asthma, increased ICP,
paralytic ileus, hypovolemic shock
Nursing Considerations: assess pain, monitor I&O ratio, monitor CNS changes, monitor allergic
reactions
Magnesium Sulfate correct answersClassification: Electrolyte; anticonvulsant
Action: CNS depressant; relaxes smooth muscles including uterus
Dose/Route: IV fluid should contain 40g in 1,000 mL, piggyback primary to infusion; administer
using controller pump
Frequency: loading dose- 4-6g over 20-30 min; maintenance dose- 1-4 g/hr
Side effects: hot flushes, sweating, burning at the IV insertion site, nausea and vomiting, dry
mouth, drowsiness, blurred vision, diplopia, headache, ileus, generalized muscle weakness,
lethargy, dizziness
Nursing Considerations: assess woman and fetus to obtain baseline before beginning therapy and
then before and after each incremental change; follow frequency of agency protocol
-monitor serum magnesium levels with higher doses; therapeutic range is between 4 and 7.5
mEq/L or 5-8 mg/dL
-discontinue infusion and notify physician if intolerable adverse affects occur
-ensure that calcium gluconate 1 g (10 mL of 10% solution) or calcium chloride (normal dose is
500 mg IV infused over 30 min) is available for emergency administration to reverse magnesium
sulfate toxicity
-should not be given to women with myasthenia gravis.
-total IV intake should be limited to 125 mL/hr
Erythromycin Ointment correct answersClass: antiinfective
Action: these antibiotic ointments are both bacteriostatic and bactericidal; they provide
prophylaxis against ophthalmia neonatorum
Dose/Route: neonatal dose- apply 1 to 2 cm ribbon of ointment to the lower conjunctival sac of
each eye; can also be used in drop form
Side effects: can cause chemical conjunctivitis that last 24 to 48 hrs; vision can be blurred
temporarily
Indication: used to prevent ophthalmia neonatorum in newborns of mothers who are infected
with gonorrhea and chlamydia
Nursing considerations: Administer within 1 to 2 hours of birth. Wear gloves. Cleanse the eyes if
necessary before administration. Open the eyes by putting a thumb and finger at the corner of
each lid and gently pressing on the periorbital ridges. Squeeze the tube and spread the ointment
from the inner canthus of the eye to the outer canthus. Do not touch the tube to the eye. After 1
minute, excess ointment may be wiped off. Observe eyes for irritation. Explain the treatment to
the parents.
, Ibuprofen correct answersName: motrin, advil, nuprin, motrin IB
Class: nonsteroidal antiinflammatory
Action: decrease pain, inflammation, and fever
Dose/Route: oral; 400 mg q 6-8 hr, 200 mg q 4-6 hr up to 1200 mg/day
Side effects: Nausea, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal distress, dyspepsia, heartburn, flatulence,
dizziness, tinnitus, itching, rash
Contraindications: For all NSAIDs: Do not give if woman has hemophilia or bleeding ulcers; do
not give if woman has had an allergic or anaphylactic reaction to aspirin or another NSAID; do
not give if woman is taking anticoagulant medication
Oxytocin (Pitocin) correct answersClass: oxytocin hormone
Action: Contraction of uterus; decreases bleeding
Dose/Route: 10 to 80 units/L diluted in lactated Ringer's solution or normal saline at 125 to 200
milliunits/min IV; or 10 to 20 units IM
Side effects: Infrequent: water intoxication, nausea and vomiting
Contraindications: none for postpartum hemorrhage
Nursing Considerations: continue to monitor vaginal bleeding and uterine tone
Morphine correct answersName: duramorph
Class: opioid analgesic
Action: depresses pain impulse transmission at the spinal cord level by interacting with opioid
receptors
Dose/Route: PO 10-30 mg q4hr prn
Side effects: dizziness, confusion, sedation, constipation
Contraindications: hypersensitivity, addiction, hemorrhage, bronchial asthma, increased ICP,
paralytic ileus, hypovolemic shock
Nursing Considerations: assess pain, monitor I&O ratio, monitor CNS changes, monitor allergic
reactions
