Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 86%
Simulated
Passage / Scenario
A nurse is caring for a client who is in labor and has an external fetal monitor. The nurse observes late decelerations on the monitor strip.The nurse observes late decelerations on the monitor strip and interprets them as indicating which of the following?
Correct answer
C
Rationale
The correct answer is C: Uteroplacental insufficiency. Late decelerations are a sign of inadequate oxygen supply to the fetus due to decreased blood flow through the placenta during contractions. This is often caused by uteroplacental insufficiency, where the placenta is not functioning optimally to supply the fetus with oxygen and nutrients. Other choices are incorrect because fetal head compression (A) and umbilical cord compression (B) typically result in variable decelerations, maternal bradycardia (D) would not directly affect fetal heart rate patterns.