EFM - Electronic Fetal Monitoring Baseline Fetal Heart Rate Questions and Answers

Question 1

According to the 2008 NICHD guidelines, what is the minimum amount of identifiable baseline that must be present in a 10-minute window to determine the baseline fetal heart rate?

Accepted Answer

At least 2 minutes, which do not need to be contiguous.

Answer

At least 5 minutes, which must be contiguous.

Answer

The entire 10-minute segment must be stable.

Answer

At least 1 minute, which must be contiguous.

Question 2

A term fetus has a baseline heart rate of 175 bpm that persists for more than 10 minutes. Which of the following is the correct classification for this baseline?

Accepted Answer

Tachycardia

Answer

Normal baseline

Answer

Bradycardia

Answer

Prolonged acceleration

Question 3

A laboring patient's EFM tracing shows a consistent fetal heart rate of 100 bpm for the past 12 minutes, accompanied by moderate variability. Which of the following is the most likely cause for this fetal heart rate pattern?

Accepted Answer

Post-term gestation with mature parasympathetic nervous system

Answer

Maternal fever

Answer

Fetal arrhythmia

Answer

Umbilical cord prolapse

Question 4

A clinician is reviewing a 10-minute electronic fetal monitoring strip. For 7 minutes, the tracing is obscured by artifact. In the remaining 3 minutes, there are two separate 90-second segments of stable heart rate at 140-145 bpm without significant periodic changes. How should the baseline FHR be documented?

Accepted Answer

145 bpm

Answer

Indeterminate

Answer

140 bpm

Answer

Normal

Question 5

Which of the following would NOT be included when determining the baseline fetal heart rate?

Accepted Answer

Periods of marked variability

Answer

Segments between uterine contractions

Answer

Periods of minimal variability

Answer

Segments where the FHR is stable

Question 6

A patient receiving terbutaline for uterine tachysystole develops a fetal heart rate baseline of 165-170 bpm. This change is most likely attributable to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Sympathomimetic effect of the medication

Answer

Maternal hypotension

Answer

Fetal sleep cycle

Answer

Increased vagal tone