CHAPTER 15 FETAL
ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS &
VERIFIED CORRECT ANSWERS
PASSED ALREADY GRADED A+
Fetal well-being during labor is assessed by which factor?
A. The response of the fetal heart rate (FHR) to uterine contractions (UCs)
B. Maternal pain control
C. Accelerations in the FHR
D. An FHR greater than 110 beats/min - CORRECT ANSWER C. Accelerations in the
FHR
The primary health care provider has asked the nurse to draw blood for an umbilical
cord acid-base determination test. Which will the nurse do in this situation?
A. Administer terbutaline (Brethine) before the test.
B. Collect blood from both the umbilical artery and vein.
C. First perform the fetal scalp stimulating technique.
D. Collect blood only from the baby's umbilical artery. - CORRECT ANSWER B. Collect
blood from both the umbilical artery and vein.
Which device is used for monitoring the intensity of uterine contractions (UCs) in a
pregnant patient?
A. Tocotransducer
B. Spiral electrode
C. Ultrasound transducer
D. Intrauterine pressure catheter (|UPC) - CORRECT ANSWER D. Intrauterine
pressure catheter (|UPC)
In an umbilical cord acid-base report, which value determines placental function?
A. Umbilical vein report
B. Umbilical artery report
C. Amniotic fluid concentration
D. Blood glucose concentration - CORRECT ANSWER A. Umbilical vein report
Which indicates normal umbilical cord blood values?
A. Umbilical artery: pH, 7.1; Pco 2, 50 mm Hg; Po 2, 20 mm Hg
B. Umbilical artery: pH, 7.3; Pco 2, 40 mm Hg; Po 2, 10 mm Hg
C. Umbilical artery: pH, 7.4; Pco 2, 52 mm Hg; Po 2, 27 mm Hg
,D. Umbilical artery: pH, 7.3; Pco 2, 45 mm Hg; Po 2, 25 mm Hg - CORRECT ANSWER
D. Umbilical artery: pH, 7.3; Pco 2, 45 mm Hg; Po 2, 25 mm Hg
Which finding is considered a component of a category II fetal heart rate (FHR) tracing?
A. Minimal variability
B. Moderate variability
C. Less than 110 beats/min
D. Presence of accelerations - CORRECT ANSWER A. Minimal variability
When does the nurse use the fetal scalp stimulation technique to assess the fetal scalp
pH?
A. If the patient's contractions have increased
B. If there is maternal weight loss in the last trimester
C. If fetal bradycardia is present
D. When the fetal heart rate (FHR) is within the baseline - CORRECT ANSWER D.
When the fetal heart rate (FHR) is within the baseline
Which umbilical blood gas reading is consistent with respiratory acidosis?
A. A base deficit value ≥12 mmol/L
B. Blood glucose levels = 120 mg/dL
C. Arterial pH >7.20
D. Partial pressure carbon dioxide >55 mm Hg - CORRECT ANSWER D. Partial
pressure carbon dioxide >55 mm Hg
Which category of fetal heart rate (FHR) tracing includes tachycardia with minimal
variability and periodic variable decelerations?
A. Category I
B. Category II
C. Category III
D. Category IV - CORRECT ANSWER B. Category II
The charge nurse instructed a group of student nurses about the monitoring of uterine
activity (UA) during labor. Which statement by the student nurse is accurate regarding
the calculation of Montevideo units?
A. "They can be calculated using an ultrasound transducer machine."
B. "They can be calculated using a spiral electrode monitoring device."
C. "They can be calculated using a tocotransducer monitoring system."
D. "They can be calculated with an intrauterine pressure catheter (IUPC)." - CORRECT
ANSWER D. "They can be calculated with an intrauterine pressure catheter (IUPC)."
Which fetal heart rate (FHR) change might warrant an amnioinfusion?
A. Late decelerations
B. Early decelerations
C. Variable decelerations
D. Prolonged decelerations - CORRECT ANSWER C. Variable decelerations
, The nurse finds that the resting tone of the uterus of a pregnant patient is 30 mm Hg.
Under which circumstance is this finding normal?
A. When an amnioinfusion is administered to the patient
B. When oxytocin (Pitocin) has been given to the patient
C. When a blood sample is obtained from the fetal scalp
D. When the blood sample is tested for umbilical acid-base - CORRECT ANSWER A.
When an amnioinfusion is administered to the patient
When the nurse observes this fetal heart pattern, which nursing action would be the
most important?
EARLY DECELERATIONS
A. To document the finding
B. To position mother on left side
C. To apply 10 L of oxygen via face mask
D. To notify the health care provider - CORRECT ANSWER A. To document the finding
On assessment, the nurse notices that the fetal heart rate (FHR) is 100 beats/ min.
Which is a possible cause for this condition?
A. Maternal hypoglycemia
B. Chorioamnionitis
C. Low fetal oxygen supply
D. Decreased fetal hemoglobin levels - CORRECT ANSWER A. Maternal
hypoglycemia
The nurse is helping a pregnant patient during labor by applying fundal pressure. Which
alteration in the fetal heart rate (FHR) pattern may result from this intervention?
A. Early decelerations
B. Late decelerations
C. Variable decelerations
D. Prolonged decelerations - CORRECT ANSWER A. Early decelerations
After administering phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine) as prescribed to a pregnant
patient, the nurse places the patient in the Trendelenburg position. Which is the
rationale for this intervention?
A. To reduce the fetal heart rate
B. To reduce the effects of tachysystole
C. To prevent adverse effects of the drug
D. To increase the patient's blood pressure - CORRECT ANSWER D. To increase the
patient's blood pressure
The nurse is assessing the fetal heart rate (FHR) by using an ultrasound transducer.
The patient asks the nurse, "Why are my baby's heart readings not continuous?" Which
is the nurse's best response?
A. "This is because you may have anxiety."
B. "This is a result of fetal movement."
C. "Perhaps you have a full bladder."
ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS &
VERIFIED CORRECT ANSWERS
PASSED ALREADY GRADED A+
Fetal well-being during labor is assessed by which factor?
A. The response of the fetal heart rate (FHR) to uterine contractions (UCs)
B. Maternal pain control
C. Accelerations in the FHR
D. An FHR greater than 110 beats/min - CORRECT ANSWER C. Accelerations in the
FHR
The primary health care provider has asked the nurse to draw blood for an umbilical
cord acid-base determination test. Which will the nurse do in this situation?
A. Administer terbutaline (Brethine) before the test.
B. Collect blood from both the umbilical artery and vein.
C. First perform the fetal scalp stimulating technique.
D. Collect blood only from the baby's umbilical artery. - CORRECT ANSWER B. Collect
blood from both the umbilical artery and vein.
Which device is used for monitoring the intensity of uterine contractions (UCs) in a
pregnant patient?
A. Tocotransducer
B. Spiral electrode
C. Ultrasound transducer
D. Intrauterine pressure catheter (|UPC) - CORRECT ANSWER D. Intrauterine
pressure catheter (|UPC)
In an umbilical cord acid-base report, which value determines placental function?
A. Umbilical vein report
B. Umbilical artery report
C. Amniotic fluid concentration
D. Blood glucose concentration - CORRECT ANSWER A. Umbilical vein report
Which indicates normal umbilical cord blood values?
A. Umbilical artery: pH, 7.1; Pco 2, 50 mm Hg; Po 2, 20 mm Hg
B. Umbilical artery: pH, 7.3; Pco 2, 40 mm Hg; Po 2, 10 mm Hg
C. Umbilical artery: pH, 7.4; Pco 2, 52 mm Hg; Po 2, 27 mm Hg
,D. Umbilical artery: pH, 7.3; Pco 2, 45 mm Hg; Po 2, 25 mm Hg - CORRECT ANSWER
D. Umbilical artery: pH, 7.3; Pco 2, 45 mm Hg; Po 2, 25 mm Hg
Which finding is considered a component of a category II fetal heart rate (FHR) tracing?
A. Minimal variability
B. Moderate variability
C. Less than 110 beats/min
D. Presence of accelerations - CORRECT ANSWER A. Minimal variability
When does the nurse use the fetal scalp stimulation technique to assess the fetal scalp
pH?
A. If the patient's contractions have increased
B. If there is maternal weight loss in the last trimester
C. If fetal bradycardia is present
D. When the fetal heart rate (FHR) is within the baseline - CORRECT ANSWER D.
When the fetal heart rate (FHR) is within the baseline
Which umbilical blood gas reading is consistent with respiratory acidosis?
A. A base deficit value ≥12 mmol/L
B. Blood glucose levels = 120 mg/dL
C. Arterial pH >7.20
D. Partial pressure carbon dioxide >55 mm Hg - CORRECT ANSWER D. Partial
pressure carbon dioxide >55 mm Hg
Which category of fetal heart rate (FHR) tracing includes tachycardia with minimal
variability and periodic variable decelerations?
A. Category I
B. Category II
C. Category III
D. Category IV - CORRECT ANSWER B. Category II
The charge nurse instructed a group of student nurses about the monitoring of uterine
activity (UA) during labor. Which statement by the student nurse is accurate regarding
the calculation of Montevideo units?
A. "They can be calculated using an ultrasound transducer machine."
B. "They can be calculated using a spiral electrode monitoring device."
C. "They can be calculated using a tocotransducer monitoring system."
D. "They can be calculated with an intrauterine pressure catheter (IUPC)." - CORRECT
ANSWER D. "They can be calculated with an intrauterine pressure catheter (IUPC)."
Which fetal heart rate (FHR) change might warrant an amnioinfusion?
A. Late decelerations
B. Early decelerations
C. Variable decelerations
D. Prolonged decelerations - CORRECT ANSWER C. Variable decelerations
, The nurse finds that the resting tone of the uterus of a pregnant patient is 30 mm Hg.
Under which circumstance is this finding normal?
A. When an amnioinfusion is administered to the patient
B. When oxytocin (Pitocin) has been given to the patient
C. When a blood sample is obtained from the fetal scalp
D. When the blood sample is tested for umbilical acid-base - CORRECT ANSWER A.
When an amnioinfusion is administered to the patient
When the nurse observes this fetal heart pattern, which nursing action would be the
most important?
EARLY DECELERATIONS
A. To document the finding
B. To position mother on left side
C. To apply 10 L of oxygen via face mask
D. To notify the health care provider - CORRECT ANSWER A. To document the finding
On assessment, the nurse notices that the fetal heart rate (FHR) is 100 beats/ min.
Which is a possible cause for this condition?
A. Maternal hypoglycemia
B. Chorioamnionitis
C. Low fetal oxygen supply
D. Decreased fetal hemoglobin levels - CORRECT ANSWER A. Maternal
hypoglycemia
The nurse is helping a pregnant patient during labor by applying fundal pressure. Which
alteration in the fetal heart rate (FHR) pattern may result from this intervention?
A. Early decelerations
B. Late decelerations
C. Variable decelerations
D. Prolonged decelerations - CORRECT ANSWER A. Early decelerations
After administering phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine) as prescribed to a pregnant
patient, the nurse places the patient in the Trendelenburg position. Which is the
rationale for this intervention?
A. To reduce the fetal heart rate
B. To reduce the effects of tachysystole
C. To prevent adverse effects of the drug
D. To increase the patient's blood pressure - CORRECT ANSWER D. To increase the
patient's blood pressure
The nurse is assessing the fetal heart rate (FHR) by using an ultrasound transducer.
The patient asks the nurse, "Why are my baby's heart readings not continuous?" Which
is the nurse's best response?
A. "This is because you may have anxiety."
B. "This is a result of fetal movement."
C. "Perhaps you have a full bladder."
