A nurse notes fetal heart rate decelerations that appear to start just prior to a uterine contraction with the fetal heart rate returning to normal by the end of the contraction.How does the nurse document this finding?
A) Early deceleration
B) Late deceleration
C) Mild deceleration
D) Variable deceleration

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

An early deceleration looks like the mirror image of a uterine contraction on the fetal heart monitor.The onset of the deceleration begins near the onset of the contraction,the lowest part of the deceleration occurs at the peak of contraction,and the fetal heart rate returns to baseline by the end of the contraction.Early decelerations are usually benign and well tolerated by the fetus.Late decelerations have a late onset and do not resolve until after the contraction has ended."Mild" is not a term used to describe decelerations.Variable decelerations are inconsistent in their onset,peak,and duration.

A Nurse Notes Fetal Heart Rate Decelerations That Appear to Start