NURS 3100 Exam 1 Practice

At 14 weeks gestation, a client is concerned about taking a prescribed mild analgesic for a sprained ankle. What should the nurse's response be?

1. This is a category A drug, so there is very little risk to your baby

2. The most dangerous time for birth defects is probably in the first semester and you are past that now

3. Let me check with the physician to see if he remembered you are pregnant

4. You are wise to avoid all drugs. I would only use the rest, compression and ice

The correct answer is: This is a category A drug, so there is very little risk to your baby

The correct answer is A. This response is accurate because medications are categorized based on their safety during pregnancy. Category A drugs are considered the safest to use during pregnancy as they have been studied in pregnant women and have not shown any evidence of risk to the fetus. This information can help reassure the client about the safety of taking the prescribed mild analgesic for the sprained ankle at 14 weeks gestation. Option B is incorrect because while it is generally true that the first trimester is a critical time for fetal development, it does not mean that there is no risk of birth defects after this period. Option C is not the best response as it delays addressing the client's concerns by checking with the physician first. Option D is not the most appropriate response because it does not acknowledge the safety category of the medication in question for pregnant women. It is important to provide accurate information to the client regarding the safety of the prescribed drug during pregnancy.