RN Exam Practice
Management of CareQuestion 1132 of 2368

The nurse suspects a prolapsed cord and lifts the presenting part, but the fetal heart rate does not improve. Which action should the nurse take next?

  1. Turn the client to hands and knees with the head down and buttocks lifted
  2. Place the client supine and lower the head of the bed completely
  3. Remove the hand and ask the client to push with each contraction
  4. Increase the oxytocin infusion to strengthen the contractions
Show answer

Correct answer: Turn the client to hands and knees with the head down and buttocks lifted

If lifting does not relieve compression, the hands-and-knees head-down position is used until emergency cesarean birth.

Source: Nursing Health Promotion (Open RN, Chippewa Valley Technical College, 2025), Labor & Delivery Care: Prolapsed Cord. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Practice the topic "Management of Care"

Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026