Final answer:
The nurse thoroughly dries the infant immediately after birth primarily to remove amniotic fluid from the baby's skin and promote thermoregulation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse thoroughly dries the infant immediately after birth primarily to remove amniotic fluid from the baby's skin, preventing cold stress and promoting thermoregulation. Drying the baby also helps to stimulate breathing and circulation. The removal of moisture from the skin also decreases the risk of infection.