Assessment of a Patient Nursing Practice Question
The nurse is preparing a woman in labor for an amniotomy. Which priority data should the nurse assess before the procedure?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Fetal well-being must be confirmed before and after amniotomy. Fetal heart rate should be checked by Doppler or with the application of the external fetal monitor. Although maternal vital signs may be assessed, fetal heart rate is the priority. A fetal scalp sampling cannot be done when the membranes are intact.