Pharmacological and Parenteral TherapiesQuestion 1362 of 2368
A client receiving an oxytocin infusion for labor has contractions occurring very frequently, and the fetal heart rate shows signs of distress. What should the nurse do first?
- Decrease the rate by half and reassess in 30 minutes
- Continue the infusion and report at the next assessment
- Prepare to increase the rate to maintain labor progress
- Stop the oxytocin infusion, give oxygen, and notify the provider
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Correct answer: Stop the oxytocin infusion, give oxygen, and notify the provider
Oxytocin is stopped immediately for uterine hyperactivity or fetal distress. The mother gets oxygen and the provider is notified urgently.
Source: Nursing Health Promotion (Open RN, Chippewa Valley Technical College, 2025), High-risk Perinatal Client Care: Tone. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Practice the topic "Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies"Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026