A charge nurse is delegating care for a group of clients. Which of the following tasks should the charge nurse assign to a licensed practical nurse?

Choice A rationale:

Oxytocin is not typically administered during a nonstress test. Oxytocin is a hormone that induces or augments labor contractions; it is not used in nonstress testing, which monitors fetal heart rate and movement. The administration of oxytocin during nonstress testing would not be appropriate or necessary.

Choice B rationale:

Fasting is not required for a nonstress test. Nonstress testing involves attaching electronic fetal monitors to the mother's abdomen to measure the baby's heart rate and movement. It does not require the patient to abstain from eating or drinking. Imposing unnecessary restrictions on the client's diet could cause discomfort and anxiety, which is not conducive to an accurate assessment.

Choice C rationale:

Nonstress testing is used to evaluate the baby's heart rate response to its own movements. It does not diagnose genetic problems. Genetic testing, such as amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling, is a different type of test used to detect genetic abnormalities in the fetus. Therefore, this statement does not reflect an understanding of the purpose of nonstress testing.

Choice D rationale:

This is the correct answer. Nonstress testing involves monitoring the baby's heart rate and movement. During the test, the mother pushes a button when she feels the baby move. This allows the healthcare provider to correlate fetal movements with changes in the baby's heart rate. An understanding of this process indicates that the client comprehends the purpose and procedure of the nonstress test.

Anticipated actions for the client include:
- A. Administer nifedipine.

- B. Assess blood pressure every 15 minutes.

- D. Assess for urinary retention.
Contraindicated actions for the client include:

- C. Perform suctioning (since there is no indication or information suggesting the need for suctioning).
- E. Place client in supine position (as it might worsen the symptoms).

- F. Withhold pain medication for headache until other manifestations resolve (it's important to address the headache promptly, especially if acetaminophen is prescribed for pain relief).