Final answer:
After childbirth, a nurse should closely monitor the mother's elevated heart rate, which can indicate complications like hemorrhage or infection. It is important as it reflects how the body is managing blood and fluid changes post-delivery.
Step-by-step explanation:
To monitor for maternal complications after a client delivers a baby, a nurse should be most alert for an elevated heart rate. This can be an indication of several potential complications such as hemorrhage or infection, both of which can lead to a sympathetic nervous system response, increasing heart rate to maintain blood pressure in the face of decreased circulating blood volume. Additionally, regulation of fluid balance and blood pressure are critical factors to monitor as they can signify the body's response to changes in blood and fluid loss associated with childbirth.