For a client with a history of sickle cell anemia in labor, what action should the nurse prioritize to prevent a sickle cell crisis?

Administering prescribed oxygen throughout labor is the most crucial action for a client with a history of sickle cell anemia. Sickle cell anemia can lead to decreased oxygen delivery to tissues due to the sickling of red blood cells, which obstructs blood flow and can cause acute pain and other complications known as a sickle cell crisis. During labor, the body's demand for oxygen increases, making it essential to ensure adequate oxygen levels in the mother and fetus. Providing supplemental oxygen helps to mitigate the risk of hypoxia, which is a key factor in triggering a sickle cell crisis.

While maintaining hydration is important, especially in clients with sickle cell disease, merely increasing IV fluids based on complaints of thirst doesn't directly address the risk of sickling crises in the context of labor. Other options, like reassuring the client or maintaining strict asepsis, are supportive but do not specifically target the critical physiological need for oxygenation during this period. Thus, ensuring adequate oxygen supply is a primary intervention that can prevent potential complications associated with sickle cell disease during the stress of labor.