Page 663 - Saunders Comprehensive Review For NCLEX-RN

Box 21-4

Nonstress Test

Description

Test is performed to assess placental function and oxygenation.
Test determines fetal well-being.
Test evaluates the fetal heart rate (FHR) response to fetal movement.

Interventions

An external ultrasound transducer and tocodynamometer are applied to the
client, and a tracing of at least 20 minutes’ duration is obtained so that the
FHR and uterine activity can be observed.
Baseline blood pressure is obtained, and blood pressure is monitored
frequently.
The client is placed in the lateral (side-lying) position to avoid vena cava
compression.
The client may be asked to press a button every time she feels fetal movement;
the monitor records a mark at each point of fetal movement, which is used as
a reference point to assess the FHR response.

Results
Reactive Nonstress Test (Normal, Negative)

“Reactive” indicates a healthy fetus.
The result requires 2 or more FHR accelerations of at least 15 beats per minute,
lasting at least 15 seconds from the beginning of the acceleration to the end, in
association with fetal movement, during a 20-minute period.

Nonreactive Nonstress Test (Abnormal)

No accelerations or accelerations of less than 15 beats per minute or lasting less
than 15 seconds in duration occur during a 40-minute observation.

Unsatisfactory

The result cannot be interpreted because of the poor quality of the FHR tracing.

Box 21-5
Contraction Stress Test

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