A nurse is caring for a laboring patient with an external fetal monitor. The nurse notices late decelerations on the monitor strip.
What does the nurse interpret this as indicating?
Maternal bradycardia
Uteroplacental insufficiency
Umbilical cord compression
Fetal head compression
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A rationale
Maternal bradycardia refers to a slower than normal heart rate in the mother. While it can affect the baby’s health, it doesn’t cause late decelerations on the fetal monitor.
Choice B rationale
Late decelerations are caused by uteroplacental insufficiency, which is a decrease in the blood flow to the placenta that reduces the amount of oxygen and nutrients transferred to the fetus. This is why the nurse would interpret late decelerations as indicating uteroplacental insufficiency.
Choice C rationale
Umbilical cord compression can cause variable decelerations, not late decelerations. Variable decelerations are abrupt decreases in the fetal heart rate, typically associated with contractions, and they vary in onset, depth, and duration.
Choice D rationale
Fetal head compression typically causes early decelerations, not late decelerations. Early decelerations are a mirror image of the contraction and are generally not a concern.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Vomiting is not a common side effect of epidural anesthesia. Nausea can occur, but it is usually associated with the opioids used in the epidural, not the epidural itself.
Choice B rationale
Tachycardia, or a rapid heart rate, is not a typical side effect of epidural anesthesia. In fact, an epidural can sometimes cause a drop in heart rate, known as bradycardia.
Choice C rationale
Hypotension, or low blood pressure, is a common side effect of epidural anesthesia. The medication used in the epidural can cause blood vessels to relax, which can lower blood pressure.
Choice D rationale
Respiratory depression is not a common side effect of epidural anesthesia. The medication used in an epidural primarily affects the nerves in the lower body, so it does not typically impact breathing. Digoxin Digoxin Explore
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Deep tendon reflexes of +1 are not consistent with preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and signs of kidney damage. One of the symptoms can be hyperreflexia, or overly active reflexes, not diminished reflexes.
Choice B rationale
Blood pressure of 148/98 mm Hg is consistent with preeclampsia, as one of the defining features of preeclampsia is high blood pressure.
Choice C rationale
1+ pitting sacral edema is consistent with preeclampsia. Edema, or swelling, is a common symptom of preeclampsia.
Choice D rationale
3+ protein in the urine is consistent with preeclampsia. One of the defining features of preeclampsia is the presence of excess protein in urine (proteinuria), which indicates kidney problems. Deep vein thrombosis Deep vein thrombosis Explore
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