A pregnant couple at 14 weeks gestation has just been told that they both are carriers of an autosomal-recessive disorder.
The nurse who is providing genetic counseling should take which of the following actions?

Choice A rationale

Increasing the rate of maintenance IV infusion is not the first action the nurse should take when observing that the fetal heart rate begins to slow after the start of a contraction and the lowest rate occurs after the peak of the contraction. This pattern is known as late decelerations and is often associated with fetal hypoxemia due to insufficient placental perfusion.

Choice B rationale

The nurse should first place the client in the lateral position. This position can improve placental blood flow and may help to resolve the late decelerations.

Choice C rationale

Administering oxygen using a nasal cannula may be beneficial, but it is not the first action the nurse should take. The priority is to improve placental blood flow, which can be achieved by changing the client’s position.

Choice D rationale

Elevating the client’s legs is not the first action the nurse should take. This action would not directly address the issue of late decelerations.

Choice B rationale

Hypertension is the most common risk factor for placental abruption. Hypertension can cause constriction of the blood vessels, including those in the placenta, which can lead to detachment of the placenta from the uterine wall.