The membranes of a client who is at 39 weeks' gestation have ruptured spontaneously. examination in the emergency department reveals that her cervix is dilated 4 cm and 75% effaced, and the fetal heart rate is 136 beats/min. she and her partner are admitted to the birthing unit. what is the nurse's primary intervention upon the client's arrival to the unit?

The nurse should start by introducing the staff nurses to the mother and the partner and also try to make the feel at home. The client is actually in the early stages of the labor and she and the fetus were examined and were both found to be stable. At this time, the most important thing is to build a trusting relationship between the client and the partner so as to allay anxiety.