Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring Practice Quiz
Questions: 16 · 10 minutes
1. A tracing shows abrupt, V-shaped fetal heart rate decreases whose timing varies from one contraction to another. Which mechanism is most commonly associated with this pattern?
Fetal head compression
A sustained change in the fetal heart rate baseline
Umbilical cord compression
Gradual uteroplacental oxygen-transfer impairment
2. Which tracing meets a defining criterion for Category III?
Moderate variability with recurrent variable decelerations
Minimal variability without recurrent decelerations
Absent variability with recurrent late decelerations
A baseline of 165 beats per minute with moderate variability
3. At 30 weeks' gestation, the fetal heart rate rises 11 beats per minute above baseline for 12 seconds. Which interpretation is correct?
It qualifies as an acceleration using the 10-beats-for-10-seconds criterion applied before 32 weeks
It does not qualify as an acceleration until it reaches 15 beats for 15 seconds
It represents moderate variability rather than an acceleration
It establishes a new baseline because it exceeds 10 seconds
4. Which fetal heart rate baseline is within the standard normal range?
120-170 beats per minute
90-140 beats per minute
100-180 beats per minute
110-160 beats per minute
5. During a 20-minute assessment, variable decelerations accompany four of six contractions. How should their frequency be described?
Intermittent because fewer than five decelerations occurred
Episodic because the rate returned to baseline each time
Prolonged because the pattern continued across 20 minutes
Recurrent because they occurred with at least 50% of contractions
6. A gradual fetal heart rate decrease begins with a contraction, reaches its lowest point near the contraction's peak, and returns to baseline as the contraction ends. What pattern is this?
Early deceleration
Late deceleration
Variable deceleration
Prolonged deceleration
7. Which statement best describes a Category II fetal heart rate tracing?
It always includes absent variability and recurrent decelerations
It includes tracings that do not meet the definitions of Category I or Category III
It is normal and requires no ongoing evaluation
It is defined solely by a baseline above 160 beats per minute
8. A tracing fluctuates around its baseline with a peak-to-trough amplitude of 12 beats per minute. How is this variability classified?
Moderate variability
Minimal variability
Absent variability
Marked variability
9. With several contractions, the fetal heart rate begins to decrease after each contraction starts, reaches its lowest point after the contraction peak, and recovers after the contraction ends. How should these decreases be classified?
Early decelerations
Late decelerations
Variable decelerations
Accelerations
10. Over three consecutive 10-minute windows, six contractions occur in each window. Resting uterine tone is not known. Which term describes the contraction frequency?
Normal contraction frequency because each window contains fewer than seven contractions
A prolonged-contraction pattern because the total duration exceeds 20 minutes
Uterine hypertonus because six contractions establish elevated resting tone
Uterine tachysystole because there are more than five contractions in 10 minutes, averaged over 30 minutes
11. A fetal heart rate decrease lasts 3 minutes before returning to baseline. Which duration-based classification applies?
Variable deceleration because it lasts less than 5 minutes
Prolonged deceleration because it lasts at least 2 minutes but less than 10 minutes
Bradycardia because every decrease over 2 minutes changes the baseline
Baseline change because it lasts at least 2 minutes
12. A tracing has a baseline of 135 beats per minute, moderate variability, no late or variable decelerations, and occasional accelerations. Which category best fits?
Category I
Category II because accelerations are present
Category II because the baseline is below 140
Category III
13. At 34 weeks' gestation, the fetal heart rate rises 16 beats per minute above baseline and remains elevated for 16 seconds before returning. How is this event classified?
A baseline change
Marked variability
An acceleration
A prolonged acceleration
14. A patient receiving oxytocin develops recurrent late decelerations with minimal variability. Which response best reflects initial management principles while help is escalated?
Classify the decreases as early decelerations and continue the same plan
Use fetal stimulation as the sole response and defer maternal assessment
Begin intrauterine resuscitative measures, including lateral repositioning, stopping or reducing oxytocin if running, assessing reversible causes, and promptly escalating care
Give oxygen routinely while leaving the oxytocin rate and maternal position unchanged
15. When determining the fetal heart rate baseline, which method is standard?
Use the single lowest rate recorded during a contraction
Use only the rate recorded between the final two contractions
Average the highest and lowest instantaneous rates over 20 minutes
Assess a 10-minute window and identify at least 2 minutes of baseline, excluding marked changes such as accelerations and decelerations
16. Which description defines absent baseline variability?
Amplitude fluctuations of 1-5 beats per minute
Amplitude fluctuations are undetectable
Amplitude fluctuations greater than 25 beats per minute
Amplitude fluctuations of 6-25 beats per minute