Following an epidural and placement of internal monitors, contractions are lasting greater than 90 seconds and occurring every 1.5 minutes. What action should the nurse take?

The scenario indicates that the contractions are lasting longer than 90 seconds and occurring frequently, a pattern that can be concerning because it might lead to uterine hyperstimulation. In this situation, the key priority is to ensure the safety of both the mother and fetus. If contractions are excessively prolonged and occur in close succession, they can compromise uteroplacental circulation, potentially leading to fetal distress and reducing the oxygen supply to the fetus.

Turning off the oxytocin infusion is the most appropriate action in this instance. Oxytocin is commonly used to augment labor and increase the frequency and intensity of uterine contractions. However, if contractions become dysfunctional or dangerous, such as those lasting too long or occurring too frequently, immediate cessation of the oxytocin infusion is necessary to prevent adverse outcomes.

While notifying the health care provider is important in this situation, the most immediate action to take is to stop the oxytocin to mitigate the risk of hyperstimulation. Turning the client to her left side could help improve blood flow but is secondary to stopping the medication causing the issue. Increasing maintenance IV fluids may provide some support but does not directly address the problem of the contractions themselves.

In summary, stopping the oxytocin infusion directly addresses the situation of prolonged