What This Document Is
This Obstetrics Expected Findings Worksheet from Oklahoma City Community College’s Nursing Process II course (NUR 1524) serves as a quick reference guide for normal and expected clinical findings during labor, delivery, and high-risk antepartum scenarios. It’s designed to help nursing students anticipate and recognize typical physiological changes and lab values associated with pregnancy and childbirth.
Why This Document Matters
This worksheet is essential for students preparing for clinical rotations in obstetrics. It provides a concentrated overview of key data points—from vital signs and lab ranges to expected physical changes—that nurses need to quickly assess and document during patient care. It’s most useful during direct patient observation and when preparing for clinical assignments focused on antepartum and intrapartum care.
Common Limitations or Challenges
This document is *not* a comprehensive textbook or instructional manual. It doesn’t explain the underlying pathophysiology of conditions like pre-eclampsia or provide detailed instructions on nursing interventions. It’s a tool for *recognizing* expected findings, not for diagnosing or treating patients. Users will still need a thorough understanding of obstetrical concepts from their coursework and clinical experiences.
What This Document Provides
The full worksheet includes:
* Normal ranges for maternal lab values during the third trimester (Hgb, Het, WBC, PLT, Urine Protein).
* Expected weight gain during pregnancy.
* Normal fetal heart rate ranges.
* Descriptions of normal breast changes during pregnancy.
* Information on the timing and characteristics of ruptured membranes (ROM).
* Definitions of key terms like “clonus” and “DTR.”
* Vital sign assessment frequencies during labor.
* Expected urine output during labor.
* Definitions and key characteristics of high-risk conditions like pre-eclampsia, placenta previa, and placenta abruptio.
* Information on fetal viability and non-stress tests (NSTs).
This preview does *not* include detailed explanations of nursing interventions, diagnostic procedures, or case studies. It does not provide a complete discussion of all potential complications or variations from normal findings.
