Which client should the nurse assess first?

The assessment of clients in a maternity setting is prioritized based on the urgency of their condition. In this scenario, the correct choice highlights a client soaking a perineal pad every hour, which indicates a potential excessive bleeding situation, commonly referred to as lochia rubra. This can signal complications such as post-partum hemorrhage, which requires immediate intervention to prevent further blood loss and ensure maternal safety.

The emphasis on the client with significant pad saturation indicates a critical need for evaluation and possible actions, such as further assessment of vital signs, fundal massage, or administration of medications to control hemorrhaging, demonstrating that timely and appropriate management is essential in a post-partum setting.

While the other clients present with concerning symptoms as well, they do not indicate an immediate life-threatening situation as the client experiencing heavy bleeding. For instance, a fever and swollen breast could suggest mastitis, which is serious but not as urgent as hemorrhage. A client with DVT needs assessment due to the risk of embolism, yet it is still less pressing than heavy bleeding. Mild cramping with foul-smelling lochia may indicate infection, but again, it does not equate to the urgent need for evaluation and intervention that heavy bleeding does.

Thus, focusing on