If contractions last longer than 60 seconds and are less than 2 minutes apart in a patient on Pitocin, what should the nurse do?

If contractions last longer than 60 seconds and are less than 2 minutes apart in a patient on Pitocin, what should the nurse do?

• A. Notify the provider
• B. Increase the Pitocin infusion rate
• C. Continue current rate and reassess later
• D. Place patient in Trendelenburg position

Answer: (A)

Contractions that last longer than a minute and occur less than two minutes apart signal uterine tachysystole, a hyperstimulation pattern that can impair placental blood flow and胎 fetal oxygenation, especially when Pitocin is being given. Because adjustments to Pitocin dosing and additional interventions require orders from a provider, the appropriate step is to notify the provider promptly so they can assess the fetal status and decide whether to reduce or stop Pitocin and possibly order a tocolytic or other actions. While waiting, continue close monitoring of the fetal heart rate and maternal status and be prepared to implement provider-directed interventions. Increasing the Pitocin infusion would worsen the problem, continuing at the same rate and reassessing later risks ongoing harm, and placing the patient in Trendelenburg does not address the issue and can worsen circulation.

Contractions that last longer than a minute and occur less than two minutes apart signal uterine tachysystole, a hyperstimulation pattern that can impair placental blood flow and胎 fetal oxygenation, especially when Pitocin is being given. Because adjustments to Pitocin dosing and additional interventions require orders from a provider, the appropriate step is to notify the provider promptly so they can assess the fetal status and decide whether to reduce or stop Pitocin and possibly order a tocolytic or other actions. While waiting, continue close monitoring of the fetal heart rate and maternal status and be prepared to implement provider-directed interventions. Increasing the Pitocin infusion would worsen the problem, continuing at the same rate and reassessing later risks ongoing harm, and placing the patient in Trendelenburg does not address the issue and can worsen circulation.