Health Promotion and Maintenance
2. A postpartum nurse is caring for a client suspecting of having endometritis. What are the risk factors for developing endometritis? Select all that apply.
Health Promotion and Maintenance
2. A postpartum nurse is caring for a client suspecting of having endometritis. What are the risk factors for developing endometritis? Select all that apply.
. Protracted active phase of labor.
. Prolonged rupture of membranes.
. Precipitous delivery.
. Prolonged latent phase of labor.
. Internal fetal monitoring.
Test-Taking Tip
Endometritis is an infection (not to be confused with endometriosis, which is dysfunctional uterine bleeding). Focus on the conditions that increase a chance for infection: long labor, long ago rupture of membranes, and an internal conduit.
Content Area: Maternity, Postpartum; Integrated Process: Nursing Process, Analysis; Cognitive Level: Application; Client Need/Subneed: Physiological Integrity/Physiological Adaptation/Pathophysiology
Health Promotion and Maintenance
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Answer 1 is correct because a risk factor for developing an infection postpartum is a long active phase of labor. Answer 2 is correct because prolonged rupture of membranes (longer than 24 hours) is a risk factor for developing postpartum endometritis. Answer 3 is incorrect because prolonged labor, not precipitous delivery, is associated with an increased risk of postpartum endometritis. Answer 4 is incorrect because a long active phase, not latent phase, of labor is associated with a higher risk of endometritis. Answer 5 is correct because internal fetal monitoring can act as a conduit for transmission of bacteria into the uterine cavity during labor and delivery, increasing the risk of developing postpartum endometritis.