Inpatient Obstetric Nurse Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Prep Guide

For suspected magnesium sulfate toxicity, the immediate action required is to administer calcium gluconate. Magnesium sulfate is commonly used in obstetric care for various indications, such as the management of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, but it can lead to toxicity if levels become too high.

Calcium gluconate acts as an antidote in cases of magnesium toxicity. It works by counteracting the effects of magnesium on neuromuscular and cardiovascular functions. Magnesium is a muscle relaxant and can cause respiratory depression and cardiac effects when present in excess. Administering calcium gluconate helps stabilize neuromuscular transmission and protect the heart.

While decreasing fluid intake and increasing urinary output can be considered supportive interventions to manage magnesium levels, they do not directly address the acute toxicity. Notifying the physician is also important for coordinating further treatment, but the immediate response to mitigate the toxicity effectively is to administer calcium gluconate. Thus, prioritizing the administration of calcium gluconate is the most critical initial action in this scenario.