Inpatient Obstetric Nurse Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Prep Guide

During the second stage of labor, the primary focus shifts towards assisting the mother as she progresses toward the birth of her baby. One of the essential interventions during this stage is assessing the mother for the urge to push. This stage is characterized by the descent of the fetus through the birth canal and the mother’s instinctual response to push when she feels the natural urge.

Monitoring this urge is crucial because pushing can help facilitate the delivery process. Noting the mother’s level of readiness helps the healthcare team determine when to provide support for her effort and helps in managing the labor more effectively. The urge to push is also typically accompanied by physiological signs such as an increase in pressure and changes in breathing patterns. This assessment allows the nurse to provide appropriate instructions and encouragement during the process, ensuring the mother's efforts are timed with the baby's descent.

While assessing fetal heart tones, encouraging rest, and initiating IV fluids can be relevant in different contexts, they do not address the immediate needs of the mother and fetus during the active pushing stage as directly as assessing the urge to push does. The timing and support of the mother’s efforts to push are vital for a safe and effective delivery.