Final answer:
Option D). The RN should assess maternal and fetal status during an active stage of labor with no cervical change in the last 4 hours. Ensuring the well-being of mother and fetus is a priority before considering interventions such as Pitocin administration.
Step-by-step explanation:
Assessing the mother's and fetus's status would be the most suitable course of action for a registered nurse (RN) if a patient is in the active stage of labor and has not experienced a cervical change in the previous four hours. To ascertain the mother's and the baby's wellbeing and rule out any issues that would necessitate emergency intervention, it is imperative that this assessment be completed right away. While oxytocin, boosting IV fluids, and encouraging ambulation are other measures that may be considered suitable in specific situations, these actions should not be used until the mother and fetus are stable.
It is noteworthy that in cases where labor is considered to have stopped and there are no contraindications, the administration of synthetic oxytocin, also known as Pitocin, may be necessary. But the choice to use Pitocin need to be made following a thorough evaluation and with the advice of an obstetrician.