A postpartum client suddenly becomes restless and reports an inability to catch her breath. What should the nurse do first?

• A. Notify the unit charge nurse and the rapid response team.
• B. Call the family for support.
• C. Document and wait for orders.
• D. Administer oxygen and reassess.

Answer: (A)

When a postpartum client suddenly becomes restless and unable to catch her breath, the priority is to rapidly mobilize skilled assessment and intervention. Notifying the unit charge nurse and activating the rapid response team brings in clinicians who can immediately assess airway, breathing, and circulation and recognize potentially life-threatening causes (such as pulmonary embolism or amniotic fluid embolism) so treatment can begin right away. Delaying to document or wait for orders can waste critical time, and calling family for support is not an urgent clinical intervention. While oxygen and ongoing reassessment are important, they should be initiated as part of the rapid response process and subsequent treatments, not before summoning help.