While evaluating an external monitor tracing of a woman in active labor, the nurse notes that the fetal heart rate (FHR) for five sequential contractions begins to decelerate late in the contraction, with the nadir of the decelerations occurring after the peak of the contraction. The nurse's first priority is to:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Late decelerations can indicate uteroplacental insufficiency. Changing the woman's position can improve blood flow to the placenta and is a non-invasive first step.

While Evaluating an External Monitor Tracing of a Woman in Active