A Client in Labor Who Rates Pain as 9 on a Scale

A client in labor who rates pain as 9 on a scale from 1 to 10 requests pain medication after refusing epidural anesthesia. What action should the nurse take prior to administering butorphanol tartrate (Stadol) as prescribed?

A) Offer epidural anesthesia again.
B) Administer oxygen via face mask at 6 to 10 L per minute.
C) Obtain maternal vital signs and assess the fetal heart rate (FHR) .
D) Instruct on the actions and contraindications associated with the medication.