Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 83%
Full-length
A client has been in labor for 10 hours. Her contractions have become hypoactive and slowed in duration. The fetus is at 0 station, cervix is dilated 8 cm and effaced 90%. The physician orders an oxytocin (Pitocin) infusion to be started at once. The RN begins the oxytocin infusion. It is important that the RN discontinue the infusion if which one of the following occur?
Correct answer
A
Rationale
Contractions less than 2 minutes apart indicate hyperstimulation, which can reduce uterine blood flow, leading to fetal hypoxia. The infusion should be discontinued to prevent complications.