The nurse is caring for a 28-year-old female who presents to the obstetrics office, suspecting she may be pregnant.
Which of the following would the nurse recognize as a presumptive sign of pregnancy?
The nurse is caring for a 28-year-old female who presents to the obstetrics office, suspecting she may be pregnant.
Which of the following would the nurse recognize as a presumptive sign of pregnancy?
A. Amenorrhea
[85%]
B. Positive fetal cardiac activity on ultrasound
[6%]
C. Enlarged uterus
[5%]
D. Auscultation of fetal heart tones
[3%]
Statistics
Subject/Lesson
Subject
Maternal & Newborn Health
Lesson
Antepartum
Client Need
Test Plan
Health Promotion and Maintenance
Related Topic
Ante/Intra/Postpartum and Newborn Care
Item Type
Item Type
Knowledge/Comprehension
Explanation
Choice A is correct. Amenorrhea (absence of menstrual period) is a presumptive sign of pregnancy. Presumptive signs of pregnancy are symptoms and signs that the patient experiences. Presumptive signs may resemble pregnancy signs and symptoms but may also be caused by other etiologies. While amenorrhea is a presumptive sign of pregnancy, missing a period can also result from other conditions such as stress, hypothyroidism, and anorexia.
Choice B is incorrect. This is considered a positive sign of pregnancy, which provides absolute confirmation. Positive signs are objective and cannot be explained by any condition other than pregnancy.
Choice D is incorrect. This is also a positive sign of pregnancy, as the presence of fetal heart tones confirms the existence of a fetus.
Choice C is incorrect. An enlarged uterus would be detected by the examiner and would be a probable sign of pregnancy. Probable pregnancy signs indicate pregnancy in most cases; however, there is still the chance they can be caused by conditions other than pregnancy. While an enlarged uterus is a probable pregnancy sign, other conditions such as uterine tumors, fibroids, and adenomyomas may also cause such a finding. Another example of a probable sign of pregnancy is a positive urine pregnancy test.
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2 Key Topics
Signs of Pregnancy
