Final answer:
A client with active genital herpes during the first stage of labor should anticipate a Cesarean section to prevent transmitting the herpes simplex virus to the newborn, which could cause serious complications.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a client with active genital herpes is admitted to the labor and delivery area during the first stage of labor, the healthcare team, including the nurse, should anticipate that the safest delivery method for both the mother and the newborn would be a Cesarean section (choice 4). This is because vaginal delivery could expose the newborn to the herpes simplex virus, which could result in neonatal herpes, a serious condition in infants that can lead to severe complications.
The decision for a Cesarean delivery is particularly critical if there are herpes lesions or symptoms of an outbreak at the time of labor. In such cases, the risk of transmitting the virus to the newborn is high during a vaginal delivery.