Final answer:
The first action a nurse should take when a low fetal heart rate is detected during labour is to change the mother's position to improve fetal oxygenation, followed by notifying the healthcare provider and potentially administering oxygen to the mother and assessing her blood pressure.
Step-by-step explanation:
During auscultation of the fetal heart rate (FHR) during labour, if a nurse assesses a rate of 59 beats per minute (BPM), this is a sign of potential fetal distress, as the normal FHR ranges from 110 to 160 BPM. The nurse's first action, in this case, should be to c) Change the mother's position, often to a side-lying position, which can help improve blood flow and oxygenation to the fetus and potentially resolve the low FHR.
While each of the listed actions may eventually be necessary, changing the mother's position is a rapid and immediate intervention that can be done while further assessments and notifications take place. Immediately afterwards, the nurse should d) Notify the healthcare provider and may need to a) Administer oxygen to the mother to increase fetal oxygenation. It would also be appropriate to b) Assess the mother's blood pressure to investigate other potential causes of the low FHR, such as maternal hypotension.
These steps must be taken quickly, as a sustained low FHR, as part of the Apgar score, indicates that the baby may be in distress and suggests the need for urgent medical attention to prevent potential consequences.