HI! Yes, don't we all HATE nursing care plans....but, your instructor is right. Care plans help you to learn to nursing process, and though we don't actually write them out any more, we make them in our heads mentally (even if we don't realize it) and it helps to guide care and assessment. So, I will try to give you some ideas....hopefully, that will get you started in the right direction.

GOALS:

Safety - patient will be free from injury related to seizures due to eclampsia, as evidenced by no falls or injuries this shift.

Fluid Balance - patient will maintain fluid balance, as evidenced by balanced intake & output this shift.

Lab values - patient will maintain lab values within therapeutic ranges, as evidenced by Magnesium Sulfate levels between 5.5 and 8.0.

Things to assess are headache, epigastric pain, visual disturbances, tendon reflexes, presence of clonus, edema, blood pressures, liver enzymes, D-dimer, coagulation panel, platelets (high risk for HELLP syndrome), fetal well-being. If being treated with Magnesium Sulfate, always have the antagonist Calcium Gluconate at the head of the bed for Mag toxicity, as evidenced by loss of tendon reflexes, lethargy, shallow breathing, fluid in lungs.

Hopefully, this gives you enough information to run with. let me know if there is more that you need.

Donna RN