2024 PN NCLEX Questions Nursing Practice Question
A nurse is determining the fetal heart rate (FHR) and places the fetoscope on the mother's abdomen to count the FHR. The nurse simultaneously palpates the mother's radial pulse and notes that it is synchronized with the sounds heard through the fetoscope. Which action should the nurse take?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In this scenario, the synchronization of the fetal heart rate (FHR) with the mother's radial pulse indicates that the nurse is likely hearing the maternal pulse rather than the fetal heart rate. Moving the fetoscope to another area (Option B) is essential to accurately locate the FHR, which may be detected in a different position on the abdomen.
Option A is incorrect as counting the FHR in synchronization with the maternal pulse does not provide an accurate measurement. Option C may help reduce movement, but it does not address the issue of misidentification. Option D suggests counting both rates separately, but this does not resolve the primary concern of distinguishing between maternal and fetal heart rates.