Question

Mary is at 42 weeks gestation. Her physician ordered a biophysical profile. She is very upset and tells the nurse, “all my doctor told me is that this test will see if my baby is ok. I do not know what is going to happen and if it will be painful to me or harmful to my baby.”

• State a nursing diagnosis that reflects the situation

• Describe how the nurse should respond to Marys concerns

• Mary receives a score of 8 for the biophysical profile. List the factors that were evaluated to obtain the score and specify the meaning of her result

Answer 1

Nursing Diagnosis :

Anxiety related to concerns about fetal outcome

How the nurse to respond

1. The nurse has to actively listen to the Mary. Allow her to debrief all her concerns related to fetal outcome.

2. Nurse can explain that it is not harming either mom or fetus. Counsel her about the fetal outcome.

3. Encourage the support from family and significant others.  

4. Allow her to share her concerns with the physician

5. Explain in detail about biophysical profile and how the procedure is carried out.

6. Explain to her that it is a noninvasive method of monitoring fetal well-being.

Biophysical score of 8

The test score is normal.  

It includes fetal heart rate monitoring and fetal ultrasound to monitor fetal heart rate , amniotic fluid levels, movements , breathing and muscle tone .