Nokea
A nurse is caring for a client who is 14 weeks of gestation. At which the following locations should the nurse place the Doppler device when assessing the fetal heart rate?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: When assessing the fetal heart rate in a client who is 14 weeks of gestation, the nurse should place the Doppler device at the midline 2 to 3 cm above the symphysis pubis. This is the appropriate location for detecting the fetal heartbeat at this gestational age. Placing the Doppler device too high on the abdomen may result in difficulty in detecting the fetal heart rate due to the position of the uterus and fetal size. Placing it too low may not capture the fetal heartbeat accurately. Therefore, the midline location above the symphysis pubis provides the best chance for accurate assessment of the fetal heart rate at 14 weeks of gestation.