Final answer:
The primigravida at 37 weeks gestation with rupture of membranes should be the priority because labor is likely imminent or in progress, and the risk of infection increases after membrane rupture, necessitating immediate assessment and care.
Step-by-step explanation:
A nurse on an antepartum unit is caring for four clients, and the question asks which client should be identified as the priority. The clients are:
- A) Primigravida at 28 weeks gestation with mild ankle edema.
- B) Multipara at 35 weeks gestation with intermittent contractions.
- C) Gravida 4, para 3 at 32 weeks gestation with gestational diabetes.
- D) Primigravida at 37 weeks gestation with rupture of membranes.
Client D, the primigravida at 37 weeks gestation with rupture of membranes, should be the priority for the nurse. A rupture of membranes, especially at 37 weeks (which is considered full-term), indicates that labor could be imminent or already in progress. The risk of infection, known as chorioamnionitis, also increases once the membranes have ruptured. Therefore, immediate assessment and management are required to ensure the health and safety of both the mother and baby.