RN Nursing · Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring · Practice question
A nurse places a tocodynamometer (TOCO) transducer on the client's fundus and secures it in place. The client asks the nurse to explain the purpose of the monitoring device. Which of the following responses should the nurse make?
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"This monitor provides me with information related to the duration and frequency of your contractions."
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"This monitor measure the intensity and frequency of your contractions so that I can observe your labor progress."
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"This monitor allows me to observe your labor progress and the pattern of your contractions which tells me how strong they are."
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"This monitor gives me information related to baby's heart rate fluctuations during labor.
Answer & explanation
Correct: "This monitor provides me with information related to the duration and frequency of your contractions."
A tocodynamometer (TOCO) is an external pressure-sensitive device placed on the fundus to detect the frequency and duration of uterine contractions, but it does NOT measure contraction intensity or strength. Only an intrauterine pressure catheter (IUPC) can measure true contraction intensity. Options B and C are incorrect because they claim the TOCO measures intensity/strength. Option D is incorrect because fetal heart rate is monitored with an ultrasound transducer, not a TOCO. The correct teaching point is that external tocodynamometry tracks contraction frequency and duration only. Reference: AWHONN Fetal Heart Monitoring Principles and Practices.
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