Final answer:
The nurse should encourage the client to empty her bladder to correct the displacement of the uterus. If the uterus remains displaced or boggy, a fundal massage should be performed to help the uterus contract.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a nurse is assessing a client who has given birth vaginally 12 hours ago and palpates her uterus to the right above the umbilicus, it may indicate that the bladder is full and displacing the uterus. To correct this displacement, the nurse should first encourage the client to empty her bladder. If the uterus does not return to the midline or if it is boggy on palpation, then the nurse should perform a fundal massage to help the uterus contract and expel any clots that may have formed. It is not simply documented as a normal postpartum variation as the displaced uterus can indicate a full bladder or other issues that require action, such as uterine atony leading to postpartum hemorrhage, which is a risk if fragments of the placenta remain following delivery. Breastfeeding can also help with uterine involution due to the release of natural oxytocin during the process.