Which symptom would a nurse expect with a diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy?

In the case of an ectopic pregnancy, a nurse would expect the presence of severe abdominal pain as a significant symptom. This pain often occurs because the growing embryo can cause the fallopian tube to stretch and ultimately rupture, leading to intense and sharp pain in the lower abdomen. The pain may vary in intensity and can be accompanied by other symptoms, such as vaginal bleeding or discomfort.

While nausea and vomiting, breast tenderness, and swelling of the abdomen may occur for a variety of reasons during pregnancy, they are not as directly associated with the specific complications of an ectopic pregnancy. Nausea and vomiting can happen in any pregnancy due to hormonal changes, breast tenderness is common in early pregnancy due to hormonal influences, and abdominal swelling can result from many conditions unrelated to ectopic pregnancies. Therefore, the intense abdominal pain stands out as the hallmark symptom indicating a potential ectopic situation, leading to immediate concern and necessitating urgent medical evaluation.