Final answer:
The most appropriate action when a woman's waters break is to advise her to come to the clinic or emergency department for an evaluation. This allows for immediate professional assessment and necessary interventions to ensure the well-being of both mother and baby during labor.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a woman reports that her waters just broke, it is essential to assess the situation quickly and accurately. The most appropriate suggestion by the nurse in this case would be "Come to the clinic or emergency department for an evaluation." This is because the rupture of the amniotic sac, commonly known as the water breaking, is a clear sign that labor may soon follow, or may have already begun. Prompt medical evaluation is crucial to determine the state of labor and ensure the safety of both the mother and the baby.
As labor progresses, it involves the dilation of the cervix and the expulsion of the baby, followed by the passage of the placenta. In cases where labor does not progress as expected, medical interventions such as the administration of synthetic oxytocin, known as Pitocin, may be necessary to support the process.