A nurse is caring for a client in labor and prepares to auscultate the fetal heart rate by using a Doppler ultrasound device. The nurse most accurately determines that the fetal heart sounds are heard by:
Noting if the heart rate is greater than 140 BPM
Placing the diaphragm of the Doppler on the mother abdomen
Performing Leopold’s maneuvers first to determine the location of the fetal heart
Palpating the maternal radial pulse while listening to the fetal heart rate
Question 40 Explanation:
The nurse simultaneously should palpate the maternal radial or carotid pulse and auscultate the fetal heart rate to differentiate the two. If the fetal and maternal heart rates are similar, the nurse may mistake the maternal heart rate for the fetal heart rate. Leopold’s maneuvers may help the examiner locate the position of the fetus but will not ensure a distinction between the two rates.