Neural tube defect

Etiology / Pathophysiology

• Multifactorial fetal neural tube closure problem; inadequate folate before and during early pregnancy is a preventable risk factor.
• Neural tube closure occurs early in gestation, often before pregnancy is recognized.

Medications

No specific medication class was seeded for this card.

Signs / symptoms

• Folate teaching is preconception and early pregnancy teaching.
• Spina bifida is a key NCLEX-linked neural tube defect.

Nursing actions

• Teach folic acid/folate intake for clients who can become pregnant, including before pregnancy recognition.
• Assess prenatal vitamin use, nutrition access, seizure medication history, diabetes risk, and ordered screening follow-up.
• Coordinate referral and newborn/neuro teaching when a defect is diagnosed.

Complications

• Spina bifida
• Anencephaly
• Hydrocephalus
• Mobility and elimination complications depending on defect

NCLEX cues

• Folate teaching is preconception and early pregnancy teaching.
• Spina bifida is a key NCLEX-linked neural tube defect.

Memory hooks

• Folate forms the fetal tube early.

Labs / Diagnostics

• Prenatal screening per order
• Ultrasound per order
• Maternal serum AFP when ordered

Review notes

• Generated from the nutrition entity graph. Verify against ATI/school nutrition materials before validation.