A client is resting comfortably after delivering her first child. When assessing her pulse rate, the nurse would recognize the following finding to be typical:

The correct answer is D. Bradycardia. (A) A thready pulse is indicative of hypotension and excessive blood loss and is often rapid. (B) Pulse irregularities or dysrhythmias do not occur in the normal postpartal woman. (C) Tachycardia occurs less frequently than bradycardia and is related to increased blood loss or…

Health Promotion and Maintenance

Question

Options

AThready pulse
BIrregular pulse
CTachycardia
DBradycardia

How the community answered

(22 responses)

C
5% (1)
D
95% (21)

Explanation

(A) A thready pulse is indicative of hypotension and excessive blood loss and is often rapid. (B) Pulse irregularities or dysrhythmias do not occur in the normal postpartal woman. (C) Tachycardia occurs less frequently than bradycardia and is related to increased blood loss or prolonged difficult labor and/or birth. (D) Puerperal bradycardia with rates of 50-70 bpm commonly occurs during the first 6-10 days of the postpartal period. It may be related to decreased cardiac strain, decreased blood volume, contraction of the uterus, and increased stroke volume.

Topics

#postpartum bradycardia#normal postpartum vital signs#physiological adaptation#postpartum assessment

Community Discussion

No community discussion yet for this question.

Full NCLEX-RN Practice