Another area where nurses can positively impact perinatal health is in supporting parents who are undergoing FNT screening and subsequent diagnostic testing. It is likely that the needs of parents who receive news of an unfavorable FNT screen are similar to the needs of parents who receive reports of positive triple/quadruple test screening and require further testing. This hypothesis should be tested through nursing research.
Fetal nuchal translucency screening is fast becoming a worldwide standard of prenatal care.
Discussion
FNT screening is a useful tool for 1st trimester screening and will probably become a standard of obstetric care. For this reason, obstetric nurses need to become familiar with this screening tool. In addition, nursing research is needed to determine parents' responses to FNT screening and the best ways to help them deal with the FNT screening process. As 1st trimester screening becomes a standard of care in the United States, obstetric, neonatal, and women's health nurses must develop client education about these new screening procedures.