Final answer:
Prepidil (Prostaglandin gel) is used to ripen the cervix and prepare it for labor and delivery by softening it. As a prostaglandin derivative, it enhances uterine contraction strength which is necessary for the onset of labor.
Step-by-step explanation:
Prepidil (Prostaglandin gel) has been ordered for a 43-week pregnant woman, and the nurse recognizes that this medication will be administered to accomplish the action of ripening the cervix. This is done to help prepare the cervix for labor and delivery by softening it, a process also known as cervical ripening. Prostaglandins, like those found in Prepidil, play a crucial role in initiating labor by increasing the contractile strength of the uterus and causing changes in the cervix that favor the onset of labor. During the late stages of pregnancy, hormonal changes and stretching forces from the fetus lead to uterine irritability and onset of labor. The administration of prostaglandin derivatives, such as Prepidil (PGE2), helps in cases where labor needs to be induced or augmented. Prostaglandins help to induce labor by enhancing uterine contraction strength, which subsequently helps in the dilation and softening of the cervix.