To screen for suspected fetal distress or placental insufficiency associated with the following maternal conditions: diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, chronic or gestational hypertension, collagen disease, heart disease, chronic renal disease, intrauterine growth restriction, sickle cell disease, Rh sensitization, suspected postmaturity (when the woman is suspected of being past her due date), history of abnormal estriol excretion

Explain the purpose and procedure involved in the nonstress test (NST).

Instruct the patient in how she’ll participate in the test.

Inform the patient that the test usually is performed over 20 to 40 minutes.

Obtain baseline vital signs and fetal heart rate (FHR).

Place the patient in a semi-Fowler or lateral-tilt position with a pillow under one hip.

Apply conductive gel to the FHR transducer and place on the patient’s abdomen to transmit and record FHR. Also place the uterine tocotransducer on the patient’s abdomen to record fetal movement.