A client planning pregnancy asks how to reduce the risk of n… | MyMerci
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Health Promotion/Disease PreventionHPM
Question
A client planning pregnancy asks how to reduce the risk of neural tube defects. Which teaching is most appropriate?
1Begin folic acid when pregnancy is confirmed because supplementation before conception does not affect neural tube development
2Rely on folate-rich foods alone and avoid a daily supplement unless testing shows folate deficiency
3Start folic acid after the first prenatal ultrasound confirms that fetal development is normal
4Take folic acid before conception and during early pregnancy as recommended.✓ Correct answer
Explanation
Option 4 is correct because folic acid taken before conception and during early pregnancy reduces neural tube defect risk; the neural tube closes very early, often before pregnancy is recognized. Option 1 is incorrect because waiting for pregnancy confirmation can miss part of the protective preconception window. Option 2 is incorrect because folate-rich foods are helpful but do not replace the recommended daily folic acid supplement for a person who could become pregnant. Option 3 is incorrect because the first ultrasound occurs after the critical period of neural tube formation.
Clinical Judgment Use the client cues, timing, labs, and safety risks to select the response that best fits Preconception folic acid teaching.
Memory Tip Match the strongest cue cluster to the safest nursing judgment.
KR vs US NCLEX items reward cue-based priority thinking rather than isolated recall.
Clinical scenario
Clinical Practice Guide For Preconception folic acid teaching, compare the complete cue pattern with the client's current stability, ordered data, and expected nursing scope.
Caution Do not choose an action from one isolated cue when the full scenario changes priority or safety.
Key concepts
Folic Acid — A B vitamin important for neural tube development.
Neural Tube Defect — A congenital defect involving early development of the brain or spinal cord.
Preconception Care — Health care and counseling before pregnancy to reduce risks.