What should the nurse do when an indirect Coombs test is ordered?

When an indirect Coombs test is ordered, the nurse's primary responsibility is to draw the mother's blood. The indirect Coombs test is used to detect the presence of antibodies against red blood cells in the mother. This is particularly important in cases where there is a risk of hemolytic disease of the newborn due to Rh incompatibility or other blood type issues.

In this context, testing the mother's blood provides valuable information about whether she has developed antibodies that could affect the fetus. This test helps determine the risk for potential blood-related complications that may arise during pregnancy, such as hemolytic anemia in the newborn if the mother is Rh-negative and the baby is Rh-positive.

Preparation of the infant, administering Rh immunoglobulin, or conducting a direct Coombs test on the infant may be necessary steps based on the results of the indirect test, but they are not the immediate actions that the nurse should take once the order for the test has been made. These actions are contingent upon the results and recommendations from the healthcare provider.