The nurse who will care for a patient in labor receives a report and is told that the patient's status is as follows: 4 cm, 50%, and +1 station. What should be the nurse's interpretation of this information?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct interpretation is C because in labor progress, cervical dilation (4 cm) refers to how much the cervix has opened, effacement (50%) indicates the thinning of the cervix, and station (+1) describes the descent of the baby's head in relation to the ischial spines. Therefore, the nurse should understand that the cervix is dilated 4 cm, effaced 50%, and the baby's head is 1 cm below the ischial spines, which is indicative of progressing labor.
Choice A is incorrect because it incorrectly describes the station as being 1 cm below the ischial spines instead of above. Choice B is incorrect as it inaccurately states that the cervix is effaced to 50% rather than dilated. Choice D is incorrect because it states that the cervix is effaced 4 cm, which is not a correct representation of effacement.