Monitoring Tools & Basics
This method of fetal assessment involves listening to fetal heart sounds at periodic intervals to assess the FHR.
What is intermittent auscultation (IA)?
This level of variability is defined by an amplitude range of 6 to 25 beats per minute.
What is moderate variability?
This is the primary goal of the labor nurse when assessing fetal status and evaluating FHR patterns.
What is oxygen (O2) delivery?
This is the normal range for a postpartum patient's pulse in beats per minute.
What is 50-90 beats per minute?
Postpartum hemorrhage for a vaginal delivery is defined as an estimated blood loss (EBL) greater than this amount.
What is 500 mL?
In external fetal monitoring, this specific transducer is used to sense the fetal heart rate.
What is an Ultrasound Transducer?
These decelerations are characterized by a gradual decrease that is symmetrical with the contraction, often caused by fetal head compression.
What are Early Decelerations?
This is the appropriate nursing action when early decelerations are identified, as they are considered a reassuring sign of head compression.
What is document, check progress, and continue to monitor?
A postpartum temperature is considered within normal physiological limits if it falls between these two Fahrenheit values.
What is 98.6-100.4 degrees Fahrenheit?
These are the "4 T's" that clinicians use to remember the common causes of postpartum hemorrhage.
What are Tone, Trauma, Tissue, and Thrombin?
This is the normal baseline range for a fetal heart rate in beats per minute, which is a requirement for a Category 1 tracing.
What is 110-160 bpm?
To be classified as this category, the tracing must include a baseline of 110-160, moderate variability, and no late or variable decelerations.
What is Category 1 (Normal)?
These are the two priority nursing actions required for late decelerations, specifically focusing on maternal positioning and high-flow oxygen administration.
What are repositioning the patient and high-flow oxygen administration?
This substance can be applied to dry or cracked nipples; it is safe for the infant and does not need to be washed off before feedings.
What is lanolin cream?
For a Cesarean section, postpartum hemorrhage is defined as an estimated blood loss greater than this amount.
What is 1000 mL?
This external monitoring device is placed on the maternal abdomen to sense the frequency and duration of uterine contractions.
What is a Tocotransducer (Toco)?
These decelerations show an abrupt decrease in FHR below the baseline and are typically the result of umbilical cord compression.
What are Variable Decelerations?
These decelerations show an abrupt decrease in FHR below the baseline and are typically the result of umbilical cord compression.
What is Methergine?
To suppress lactation, non-breastfeeding mothers should wear a supportive bra and avoid this specific activity while bathing to prevent stimulation.
What is avoiding stimulation/warm water on the breasts (allowing water to hit the back only)?
This complication is characterized by fever and unilateral breast involvement, often caused by a blocked milk duct or bacteria.
What is mastitis?
This wireless, patch-based external monitoring system allows for maternal mobility while tracking both FHR and uterine activity.
What is the Novii system?
This abnormal FHR pattern is a smooth, wave-like undulating pattern that is predictive of abnormal fetal acid-base balance and places a tracing into Category 3.
What is a Sinusoidal pattern?
This abnormal FHR pattern is a smooth, wave-like undulating pattern that is predictive of abnormal fetal acid-base balance and places a tracing into Category 3.
What is immediate intervention or delivery?
This term describes the condition where the uterus is not decreasing in size as expected, often due to retained placental fragments or infection.
What is subinvolution?
This condition, often caused by an over-distended uterus or prolonged labor, is the leading cause of postpartum hemorrhage.
What is uterine atony?