A laboring client on oxytocin shows contractions every 30 seconds to 2 minutes with an intensity of 90 mm Hg and increasing resting tone. How should the nurse respond?

A laboring client on oxytocin shows contractions every 30 seconds to 2 minutes with an intensity of 90 mm Hg and increasing resting tone. How should the nurse respond?

• A. Discontinue the oxytocin infusion
• B. Increase the oxytocin rate
• C. Place patient in Trendelenburg position
• D. Continue at the same rate

Answer: (A)

Uterine tachysystole with hypertonus is the issue here. Oxytocin can drive contractions to become too frequent and too intense, reducing placental blood flow and risking fetal distress. The best response is to discontinue the oxytocin infusion to allow the uterus to relax and restore adequate placental perfusion. After stopping pitocin, reassess the contraction pattern and fetal status, and escalate to tocolysis if contractions remain excessive. Increasing the oxytocin rate or continuing the same rate would worsen hyperstimulation, and placing the patient in Trendelenburg does not address the underlying tachysystole.

Uterine tachysystole with hypertonus is the issue here. Oxytocin can drive contractions to become too frequent and too intense, reducing placental blood flow and risking fetal distress. The best response is to discontinue the oxytocin infusion to allow the uterus to relax and restore adequate placental perfusion. After stopping pitocin, reassess the contraction pattern and fetal status, and escalate to tocolysis if contractions remain excessive. Increasing the oxytocin rate or continuing the same rate would worsen hyperstimulation, and placing the patient in Trendelenburg does not address the underlying tachysystole.