A nurse is caring for a client who is 12 hours postpartum and has a fourth-degree laceration of the perineum. The nurse should take which of the following actions?

A nonstress test (NST) is a common procedure used to assess the well-being of the fetus. During an NST, the fetal heart rate is monitored for a period of time to evaluate its response to fetal movement. In a normal NST, the fetal heart rate should show accelerations (temporary increases in heart rate) with fetal movement. Lack of accelerations can indicate fetal compromise or a non-reactive test.

In the given scenario, the absence of accelerations for 20 minutes indicates a non-reactive NST. In such cases, further interventions may be required to stimulate the fetus and provoke a response. Vibroacoustic stimulation is a non-invasive method that involves using sound or vibration to stimulate the fetus and elicit a fetal heart rate acceleration. It can be performed by placing a device on the mother's abdomen and delivering a brief sound or vibration near the fetal head.

Option a) Placing the client in the Trendelenburg position is not appropriate in this situation. The Trendelenburg position involves placing the client's head lower than the feet, and it is not indicated for a non-reactive NST.

Option b) Conducting a vaginal exam is not necessary in this scenario. The non-reactive NST indicates a lack of fetal heart rate accelerations, and a vaginal exam would not provide additional information or help in this situation.

Option c) Collecting a specimen for an indirect Coombs test is unrelated to the non-reactive NST. An indirect Coombs test is used to detect antibodies in the mother's blood that could potentially cause hemolytic disease of the newborn. It is not indicated as a response to a non-reactive NST.

A nonstress test (NST) is a test in pregnancy that measures fetal heart rate in response to movement and contractions²³. A normal nonstress test will show a baseline fetal heart rate between 110 and 160 beats per minute with moderate variability (5- to 25-interbeat variability) and 2 qualifying accelerations in 20 minutes with no decelerations³⁴. An acceleration is defined as an increase in the fetal heart rate of at least 15 beats per minute above the baseline for at least 15 seconds²³⁴.
A nonstress test can be affected by uterine contractions, which can cause fetal heart rate decelerations or reduced variability²³. Uterine contractions can also indicate preterm labor or placental abruption, which are serious complications that require intervention². Therefore, if the nurse observes three or more uterine contractions within a 20-minute period during a nonstress test, they should intervene by notifying the provider, assessing the patient for signs of labor or bleeding, and preparing for further evaluation or treatment²⁵.

The other options are not correct because they do not require intervention by the nurse:
a) One acceleration of the FHR within a 20-min period is not enough to meet the criteria for a reactive nonstress test, but it does not indicate fetal distress or compromise. The nurse should continue monitoring the fetal heart rate for another 20 minutes or until two accelerations are observed²³⁴.
b) Uterine contractions lasting 20 to 30 seconds each are normal and expected during pregnancy, especially in the third trimester. They are called Braxton Hicks contractions and they help prepare the uterus for labor. They are usually painless and irregular, and do not cause cervical changes. They do not require intervention by the nurse unless they become frequent, intense, or painful².
d) An FHR that peaks 20 beats above the baseline is considered an acceleration and is a sign of fetal well- being. It does not require intervention by the nurse unless it is associated with decelerations or reduced variability²³⁴.