A nurse is collecting data from a client during a routine prenatal visit. The client is in their second trimester of pregnancy and reports feeling dizzy, has a racing heart, and becomes pale while lying on their back. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Explanation & Rationale
A) Position the client on their left side. This is the most appropriate action. The client's symptoms (dizziness, racing heart, and paleness) are consistent with supine hypotensive syndrome, which occurs when the pregnant uterus compresses the inferior vena cava while lying on the back, reducing venous return to the heart. Positioning the client on their left side relieves the pressure on the vena cava, restores normal blood flow, and alleviates these symptoms. This is a common intervention during pregnancy to prevent such complications. B) Check the client's temperature. While checking the client’s temperature may be necessary if an infection is suspected, the symptoms described are more indicative of supine hypotensive syndrome rather than an infection. Therefore, checking the temperature is not the priority action in this scenario. C) Instruct the client to take a brisk walk. Encouraging the client to take a brisk walk is not an appropriate response to the symptoms described. In fact, moving or exerting oneself might worsen dizziness or lead to further complications. The priority is to relieve the pressure on the vena cava by changing the client's position, not by physical activity. D) Provide the client with a glass of orange juice. Although providing orange juice might help if the client is experiencing hypoglycemia, there is no indication from the symptoms described that the client has low blood sugar. The client's symptoms are more likely due to positional changes that affect circulation during pregnancy, and the best immediate action is to change the client's position rather than offering food or drink.