Maternity Nursing: cram pack

Formula sheets, the key method steps for every topic and 6 practice problems, with full solutions at the back.

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1Formulas and methods

Maternity & obstetric nursing

Method

  1. Place the woman in time: weeks of pregnancy, stage of labour or day after birth, and decide what is normal at that point.
  2. Look for the patient in danger: the mother, the fetus or the newborn, or more than one of them.
  3. Link the finding to its cause: VEAL CHOP for decelerations, the four Ts for bleeding, BUBBLE-HE after birth.
  4. Choose the action that improves blood flow and oxygen first (side-lying, stopping oxytocin, fundal massage), then escalate.

Dosage calculations

Dose from strength
volume = dose / strength
Weight-based dose
dose = mg/kg × body weight
Tablets
number = dose / tablet strength
Units
1 g = 1000 mg, 1 mg = 1000 mcg

Method

  1. Convert the ordered dose and the stock strength to the same unit.
  2. Use desired over have times quantity: (D/H) × Q.
  3. For weight-based doses, multiply by the weight in kg first, then divide the daily dose by the number of doses.
  4. Estimate first and check that the answer is reasonable.

IV infusion rates

Pump rate
mL/h = volume (mL)/time (h)
Drip rate
drops/min = volume (mL) × drop factor / time (min)
Infusion time
time (h) = volume (mL)/rate (mL/h)

Method

  1. Pump rate in mL/h: volume divided by time in hours.
  2. Drip rate in drops/min: volume × drop factor divided by time in minutes.
  3. For time remaining: volume left divided by the rate.
  4. Round as the question or the equipment requires.

2Practice problems

1.Maternity & obstetric nursingMedium

Which newborn complication is particularly linked to a forceps birth?

  1. AHip dysplasia
  2. BUmbilical hernia
  3. CFacial nerve palsy
  4. DNeonatal jaundice from ABO incompatibility
2.Maternity & obstetric nursingHard

Which statement by a woman being discharged after birth shows a need for further teaching?

  1. A"I should change my pads regularly and wash my hands."
  2. B"I can use tampons for the bleeding as soon as I get home."
  3. C"I should report a painful, swollen calf straight away."
  4. D"I should call if my bleeding gets heavier or smells bad."
3.Dosage calculationsMedium
024681010 mL

A child weighing 34 kg is prescribed 10 mg/kg of a drug. The stock solution contains 50 mg/mL. Draw up the dose: what volume V do you give?

34 kg10 mg/kg50 mg/mL
V = mL
4.Dosage calculationsHard
250 mg/5 mLV = ? mL

A child weighing 14 kg is prescribed 20 mg/kg per dose of an oral suspension that contains 250 mg in 5 mL. What volume V do you give?

14 kg20 mg/kg250 mg/5 mL
V = mL
5.IV infusion ratesMedium
500 mL10 gtt/mL4 h? gtt/min

Infuse 500 mL over 4 hours with a giving set of 10 gtt/mL. Find the drip rate R in drops per minute. Round to the nearest whole number.

500 mL4 h10 gtt/mL
R = gtt/min
6.IV infusion ratesHard
200 mg250 mL8 mL/h? mg/h

A bag contains 200 mg of a drug in 250 mL and runs at 8 mL/h. How many milligrams per hour D does the patient receive?

200 mg/250 mL8 mL/h
D = mg/h

3Solutions

1.Maternity & obstetric nursing

Answer: C · Facial nerve palsy

Why this is the answer

Pressure from forceps blades on the facial nerve can cause temporary facial palsy, with asymmetry when the baby cries. It usually resolves within weeks.

Answer

C · Facial nerve palsy
2.Maternity & obstetric nursing

Answer: B · "I can use tampons for the bleeding as soon as I get home."

Why this is the answer

Tampons are avoided until lochia has stopped and the postnatal check is done, because they increase the risk of infection. The other statements are correct.

Answer

B · "I can use tampons for the bleeding as soon as I get home."
3.Dosage calculations

Answer: V = 6.8 mL

Drawing up a dose: volume = (prescribed dose/stock strength) × stock volume. Convert to the same units first, then check that the volume fits the syringe and lands on one of its graduations.

Dose from body weight

D = 10·34 = 340 mg

Volume

V = 340/50 = 6.8 mL

On the syringe

On this 10 mL syringe every small line is 0.2 mL.

Answer

V = 6.8 mL
4.Dosage calculations

Answer: V = 5.6 mL

Dose calculation: the amount to give equals what is prescribed divided by what you have, times the quantity it comes in: amount = (desired dose/stock strength) × stock volume. Always keep the units the same (convert g to mg, mg to mcg first) and check that the answer is sensible.

Dose from weight

20·14 = 280 mg

Volume

V = (280/250)·5 = 5.6 mL

Answer

V = 5.6 mL
5.IV infusion rates

Answer: R = 21 gtt/min

Infusion rates: a pump is set in mL/h = volume/time in hours. A gravity drip is counted in drops per minute: gtt/min = volume (mL) × drop factor (gtt/mL)/time (min). The drop factor is printed on the tubing package: macrodrip sets deliver 10, 15 or 20 gtt/mL (blood sets often 10 gtt/mL in the US, 15 in the UK) and microdrip sets 60 gtt/mL. Always use the drop factor the question or package gives.

Time in minutes

4·60 = 240 min

Drip rate

R = 500·10/240 = 20.83 ≈ 21 gtt/min

Answer

R = 21 gtt/min

At the bedside you round to the nearest whole drop: 21 gtt/min.

6.IV infusion rates

Answer: D = 6.4 mg/h

Infusion rates: a pump is set in mL/h = volume/time in hours. A gravity drip is counted in drops per minute: gtt/min = volume (mL) × drop factor (gtt/mL)/time (min). The drop factor is printed on the tubing package: macrodrip sets deliver 10, 15 or 20 gtt/mL (blood sets often 10 gtt/mL in the US, 15 in the UK) and microdrip sets 60 gtt/mL. Always use the drop factor the question or package gives.

Concentration

200/250 = 0.8 mg/mL

Dose rate

D = 0.8·8 = 6.4 mg/h

Answer

D = 6.4 mg/h

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