A nurse is caring for a pregnant patient who is at 26 weeks gestation and reports a sudden decrease in fetal movement. Which action should the nurse take first?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Encourage the patient to drink a sugary beverage and count fetal movements. This action is appropriate as decreased fetal movement can indicate fetal distress, and the sugary beverage can stimulate the baby to move. If the baby responds with increased movements, it indicates a reassuring fetal status. If there is no improvement, further evaluation can be pursued.
Incorrect choices:
B: Monitoring blood pressure is not the priority in this situation as the main concern is fetal movement.
C: Performing a nonstress test is not the first action to take as it requires time and resources, which may delay immediate intervention.
D: While eventually contacting the healthcare provider is important, the immediate action should be to assess fetal well-being by encouraging fetal movements.