Question

A nurse working with a woman in preterm labor receives a telephone report for the fetal fibronectin test done 10 hours ago. The report indicates an absence of the protein, which the nurse knows indicates:

a) Increased risk of preterm birth
b) Decreased risk of preterm birth
c) Fetal distress
d) Placental insufficiency

Answer 1

The absence of fetal fibronectin indicates a decreased risk of preterm birth, suggesting that delivery is less likely within the next couple of weeks.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a fetal fibronectin test indicates an absence of the protein, the nurse would know this indicates a decreased risk of preterm birth. Fetal fibronectin is a protein that acts like a biological 'glue' during pregnancy, and its presence in vaginal secretions after 22 weeks of gestation can be a predictor of preterm labor if found in significant amounts. Its absence, particularly between 22 and 35 weeks of gestation, typically suggests a lower risk of delivery within the next couple of weeks.