Placenta Previa vs. Placental Abruption: How to Tell the Difference | Pulse Check Ep. 105

Third-trimester bleeding can be scary, but knowing the difference between placenta previa and placental abruption is key for nursing exams and real-world clinical judgment. In this episode of Pulse Check with Archer Nursing, Dr. Morgan Taylor breaks down the classic signs, symptoms, pathophysiology, and nursing priorities for placenta previa vs. placental abruption. You’ll learn how to recognize painless bright red bleeding with a soft uterus in placenta previa, versus painful dark red bleeding, a rigid “board-like” uterus, and fetal distress in placental abruption. We’ll also walk through a practice question to help you apply the differences the way you’ll see them on nursing exams and the NCLEX. In this episode: Placenta previa vs. placental abruption Third-trimester bleeding assessment Bright red vs. dark red bleeding Soft uterus vs. board-like uterus Fetal heart rate changes NCLEX-style practice question Priority nursing interventions Want more support for nursing school, the NCLEX, continuing education, and beyond? Archer Nursing has on-demand video lectures, high-yield question banks, live case study reviews, and more. Find everything Archer Review has to offer: ⁠⁠archerreview.link/PulseCheck⁠⁠ Use code PULSECHECK10 - an exclusive discount just for our listeners! Connect with us! 📸 Instagram: @archernursing 📘 Facebook: Archer NCLEX Review 🎵 TikTok: @archernursing ▶️ YouTube: Archer Review NCLEX, USMLE, TEAS7, and FNP Visit Archer Review: archerreview.com #NursingSchool #NCLEX #OBNursing #PlacentaPrevia #PlacentalAbruption #MaternalNewborn #NursingStudents #ArcherNursing