Final answer:
Post-delivery, the nurse's priority assessment for a client administered with oxytocin should be to check for vaginal bleeding to rule out postpartum hemorrhage, which is a priority because it can be life-threatening.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse caring for a client who is in the fourth stage of labor and receiving oxytocin via continuous IV infusion must prioritize assessments according to potential life-threatening complications. While several factors need monitoring, the most critical assessments are maternal blood pressure, uterine contractions, fetal heart rate, and vaginal bleeding. However, since the question asks specifically for the priority postpartum, the nurse should prioritize checking for vaginal bleeding to rule out postpartum hemorrhage, which can be a life-threatening event.
Oxytocin is administered to stimulate uterine contractions and facilitate the progression of labor, especially when labor is not progressing normally. It is also administered after the delivery during the fourth stage of labor, which involves the recovery period and is aimed at preventing postpartum hemorrhage by maintaining uterine contractions.