Final answer:
After obtaining vital signs for a preeclamptic client, the nurse should check the client's reflexes. Normal saline is used to maintain electrolyte balance in the blood. Pitocin is prescribed for labor induction for Janine's stalled labor.
Step-by-step explanation:
The next nursing action after vital signs have been obtained for a client with preeclampsia in the high-risk prenatal unit would be B. Check the client's reflexes. This is important for assessing the severity of preeclampsia. Hyperreflexia can indicate an increased risk for seizures, which is associated with a more severe form of preeclampsia known as eclampsia.
Patients who receive intravenous fluids, such as normal saline, are given isotonic solutions to ensure that the electrolyte concentration in the blood remains balanced and to prevent cell shrinking or swelling. This is crucial to maintain homeostasis within the patient's body.
Regarding Janine, who is 41 weeks pregnant, an IV infusion of pitocin is started to induce or augment labor, as her labor progress has slowed or stalled, indicated by mild contractions and minimal cervical dilation. Pitocin is a synthetic form of oxytocin, which helps increase uterine contractions.