A nurse is caring for a 25-year-old postpartum client who delivered 6 hours ago and is experiencing heavy vaginal bleeding with saturation of a pad every 20 minutes. Which nursing action should be the priority?

Scenario: A 25-year-old postpartum client, 6 hours post-delivery, is saturating a pad every 20 minutes. This rate of blood loss is a critical sign of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) and requires immediate intervention to prevent hypovolemic shock.

Priority Action Rationale: The most common cause of early PPH is uterine atony. The nurse's immediate priority is to perform firm fundal massage to stimulate uterine contraction, which mechanically constricts the open vessels at the placental site and controls the bleeding.

Ongoing Management: While one nurse initiates fundal massage, another team member should activate the facility's PPH protocol, ensure IV access with a large-bore catheter, administer uterotonic medications as prescribed (e.g., oxytocin), and prepare for fluid resuscitation and continuous vital sign monitoring.