Maternity Nursing Q 39
As soon as the placenta is delivered, the nurse must do which of the following actions?
A. Inspect the placenta for completeness including the membranes.
B. Place the placenta in a receptacle for disposal.
C. Label the placenta properly.
D. Leave the placenta in the kidney basin for the nursing aide to dispose properly.
Correct Answer: A. Inspect the placenta for completeness including the membranes.
The placenta must be inspected for completeness to include the membranes because an incomplete placenta could mean that there is retention of placental fragments which can lead to uterine atony. If the uterus does not contract adequately, hemorrhage can occur.
Option B: During the examination, the size, shape, consistency and completeness of the placenta should be determined, and the presence of accessory lobes, placental infarcts, hemorrhage, tumors and nodules should be noted. Once deemed complete, it may be disposed of properly.
Option C: The placenta is not necessarily labeled. For inspection, keep in mind that the maternal surface of the placenta should be dark maroon in color and should be divided into lobules or cotyledons. The structure should appear complete, with no missing cotyledons. The fetal surface of the placenta should be shiny, gray, and translucent enough that the color of the underlying maroon villous tissue may be seen.
Option D: Before the proper disposal of the placenta, it should be assessed properly. Evaluating placental completeness is of critical, immediate importance in the delivery room. Retained placental tissue is associated with postpartum hemorrhage and infection.