Health Promotion and Maintenance
81. A client, who is gravida 1, para 0, is dilated to 6 cm, 100% effaced, and a 0 station for the past 2 hours without any change in her cervix. A physician orders oxytocin (Pitocin) augmentation. When evaluating the effectiveness of IV oxytocin augmentation, which outcome should a nurse anticipate?
. A painless delivery.
. Cervical effacement.
. Infrequent contractions.
. Progressive cervical dilation.
Test-Taking Tip
Restate this question to ask, how would the nurse know if oxytocin augmentation is working?
Content Area: Maternity, Intrapartum; Integrated Process: Nursing Process, Evaluation; Cognitive Level: Analysis; Client Need/Subneed: Physiological Integrity/Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies/Expected Effects/Outcomes
Health Promotion and Maintenance
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Answer 1 is incorrect because oxytocin makes the contractions more painful. Painless delivery would not be a measure of the effectiveness of IV oxytocin. Answer 2 is incorrect because this client was already 100% effaced before the oxytocin augmentation was started. Answer 3 is incorrect because infrequent contractions would mean the oxytocin was not effective. IV oxytocin increases the frequency of the contractions. Answer 4 is correct because this client has uterine dystocia, and the effectiveness of the oxytocin infusion is measured by a change in the dilation of the cervix.