Final answer:
a. 5 minutes. The nurse should monitor the fetal heart rate every 5 minutes during the second stage of labor to ensure the baby is tolerating labor well.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse should monitor the fetal heart rate every 5 minutes during the second stage of labor.
During the second stage of labor, the cervix is fully dilated and the baby is delivered. This stage can last from a few minutes to a couple of hours. It is important to monitor the fetal heart rate at frequent intervals to ensure that the baby is tolerating labor well.
Monitoring the fetal heart rate every 5 minutes allows the nurse to detect any changes or abnormalities in the baby's heart rate and take appropriate action if necessary.