The nurse is monitoring fetal heart rate (FHR) on a laboring client. Which finding should be reported to the health care provider?

  1. FHR of 154 bpm with moderate variability
  2. FHR of 114 bpm with moderate variability
  3. FHR of 170 bpm lasting more than 10 minutes
  4. FHR of 156 bpm with minimal variability in a premature infant
Number 3 is correct.
Rationale: A FHR of greater than 160 bpm lasting more than 10 minutes may indicate early fetal hypoxemia, fetal cardiac arrhythmias, infection, or fetal anemia. A normal FHR is from 110 to 160 bpm. Moderate variability is considered a normal finding. Minimal variability may occur with prematurity.