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A nurse is caring for a client who is pregnant and undergoing a contraction stress test (CST).
The nurse observes three uterine contractions in 10 minutes, with no late or significant variable decelerations of the fetal heart rate (FHR).
How should the nurse interpret this finding?
A positive CST means that there are late decelerations of the FHR with 50% or more of the contractions.
This suggests that the fetus is at risk of hypoxia and may need early delivery.
Negative CST.A negative CST means that there are no late or significant variable decelerations of the fetal heart rate (FHR) during three uterine contractions in 10 minutes.
This indicates that the fetus is well oxygenated and can tolerate the stress of labor contractions.
An unsatisfactory CST means that there are fewer than three contractions in 10 minutes or the tracing is not interpretable.
This does not provide enough information to assess the fetal well-being.
An equivocal CST means that there are either intermittent late decelerations or significant variable decelerations.
This indicates that the fetus may have some degree of compromise and may need further testing.
Negative CST. A negative CST means that there are no late or significant variable decelerations of the fetal heart rate (FHR) during three uterine contractions in 10 minutes.
This indicates that the fetus is well oxygenated and can tolerate the stress of labor contractions.
Choice A is wrong because a positive CST means that there are late decelerations of the FHR with 50% or more of the contractions.
This suggests that the fetus is at risk of hypoxia and may need early delivery.
Choice C is wrong because an unsatisfactory CST means that there are fewer than three contractions in 10 minutes or the tracing is not interpretable.
This does not provide enough information to assess the fetal well-being.
Choice D is wrong because an equivocal CST means that there are either intermittent late decelerations or significant variable decelerations.
This indicates that the fetus may have some degree of compromise and may need further testing.
Normal ranges for FHR are 110 to 160 beats per minute, and for uterine contractions are 2 to 5 per 10 minutes.
