Management of CareQuestion 1090 of 2368
The nurse finds a prolapsed umbilical cord during a vaginal exam, and the fetal heart rate shows bradycardia. Which action is the priority?
- Insert two fingers in the vagina and lift the presenting part off the cord
- Start an amnioinfusion to cushion the cord
- Increase the oxytocin infusion to speed up the birth
- Continue monitoring and reassess the tracing in 10 minutes
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Correct answer: Insert two fingers in the vagina and lift the presenting part off the cord
Relieving pressure on the cord restores fetal blood flow. It must continue until a cesarean birth.
Source: Nursing Health Promotion (Open RN, Chippewa Valley Technical College, 2025), Labor & Delivery Care: Nursing Interventions. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Practice the topic "Management of Care"Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026