The nurse has been assigned a client who delivered a 6-lb, 12-oz baby boy vaginally 40 minutes ago. The initial assessment of greatest importance for this client would be:

The length of labor has little bearing on the fourth stage of labor. The type of labor and delivery is significant. The type of episiotomy will affect the client's comfort level. However, the nurse's assessment and implementations center on prevention of hemorrhage during the fourth stage of labor. The amount of bleeding from the episiotomy or hematoma formation is of higher priority than the type of episiotomy. The amount of IV fluid to be infused is a nursing function to be attended to; however, it is lower in priority than determining if hemorrhaging is occurring. Character of the fundus would be the priority nursing assessment because changes in uterine tone may identify possible postpartum hemorrhage.