Final answer:
Monitoring the fetal heart rate takes priority when a patient experiences SROM during labor.
Step-by-step explanation:
The priority action for the nurse when a patient experiences SROM (spontaneous rupture of membranes) during labor is to monitor the fetal heart rate. This is important to ensure the well-being of the baby and to detect any signs of distress or complications. Assessing for umbilical cord prolapse, starting the delivery process, and prepping the patient for a C-section may become necessary depending on the specific circumstances, but monitoring the fetal heart rate takes priority.