A nurse is caring for a client having a biophysical profile.
The client asks what the test is for.
What should the nurse include in the response? (Select all that apply.)

Choice A rationale

Assessing the baseline fetal heart rate (FHR) over a 10-minute period ensures accurate measurement by capturing rate fluctuations due to fetal activity or maternal factors. This duration is a standardized method to establish a representative baseline. Variability is excluded during this time, focusing on a stable resting rate.

Choice B rationale

Baseline FHR can be obtained using ultrasound or auscultation, both being reliable non-invasive methods for assessing fetal well-being. These tools accurately detect cardiac activity and provide real-time data, allowing consistent monitoring during labor.

Choice C rationale

Baseline FHR cannot be obtained during contractions due to transient accelerations or decelerations caused by uterine compression. These changes do not represent the resting heart rate. Accurate baseline assessments require a period without uterine activity to avoid skewed results.

Choice D rationale

A normal FHR of 110-160 bpm indicates adequate oxygenation and neural regulation. This range reflects the fetal cardiovascular system's ability to adapt to in utero conditions. Values outside this range might suggest hypoxia, infection, or other abnormalities.

Choice A rationale

Decreased urine output is not typically associated with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). PDA causes an abnormal connection between the aorta and pulmonary artery, leading to left-to-right shunting of blood, which predominantly affects the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems rather than renal output directly.

Choice B rationale

Bradycardia is not a hallmark sign of PDA. Instead, PDA commonly leads to increased cardiac workload and tachycardia. The persistent opening between the aorta and pulmonary artery creates volume overload in the heart, which does not slow heart rate but rather increases it to compensate for the extra demand.

Choice C rationale

Cyanosis of the extremities is more typical in conditions involving right-to-left shunting, which is not characteristic of PDA. In PDA, the blood flow is typically left-to-right, meaning oxygenated blood flows back into the pulmonary circulation, which may lead to pulmonary congestion but not peripheral cyanosis.

Choice D rationale

A continuous "machinery-like" heart murmur is a classic sign of PDA due to the turbulent flow of blood between the high-pressure aorta and low-pressure pulmonary artery during both systole and diastole. This characteristic sound is often used diagnostically to identify PDA in newborns.