Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 63%
Simulated
Passage / Scenario
A client who is at 40 weeks of gestation and is in laborA nurse is observing the electronic fetal heart rate monitor tracing for a client who is at 40 weeks of gestation and is in labor. The nurse should suspect a problem with the umbilical cord when he observes which of the following patterns?
Correct answer
A
Rationale
Variable decelerations indicate umbilical cord compression, reducing fetal blood flow. Late decelerations suggest uteroplacental insufficiency, accelerations are normal, and early decelerations relate to head compression.