The nurse uses the FHR to determine the well-being of the fetus during the antepartum and intrapartum periods by evaluating for FHR baseline variability, accelerations, and decelerations. Signs of a nonreassuring FHR tracing include minimal or absent variability, late decelerations, marked variability, and prolonged decelerations.

Nurses in the perinatal area are trained and can be certified in FHR monitoring. A reassuring FHR tracing demonstrates adequate oxygenation and includes moderate variability, accelerations, and a baseline FHR between 110 and 160 bpm.

late decelerations — symmetrical, gradual decreases in FHR after the start of a uterine contraction, with return to baseline after the ending of the contraction. prolonged decelerations — isolated, sporadic decelerations of at least 15 bpm from the FHR baseline that last 2 to 10 minutes from onset to return to baseline. FHR baseline — average beats per minute in a 10-minute segment, excluding periodic changes or marked variability. accelerations — abrupt increases in the FHR above the baseline 15 bpm or more lasting 15 seconds or more.