A primigravida who is at 38 weeks' gestation is undergoing a nonstress test. The nurse determines that the baseline fetal heart rate is 130 to 140 beats/min. It rises to 160 on two occasions and 157 once during a 20-minute period. Each of the episodes in which the heart rate is increased lasts 20 seconds. What action should the nurse take?
A) Discontinuing the test because the pattern is within the expected range
B) Encouraging the client to drink more fluids to decrease the fetal heart rate
C) Notifying the primary health care provider and preparing for an emergency birth
D) Recording this nonreassuring pattern and continuing the test for further evaluation
