A nurse assesses a client in the labor room and finds that the client's Bishop score for her cervical status is 6. Which medication may be administered to this client?

The Bishop score is used to evaluate the readiness of the cervix for labor, with higher scores indicating a greater likelihood of successful vaginal delivery. A score of 6 suggests that while the cervix has made some progress toward readiness, it may still benefit from further cervical ripening before labor can be induced effectively.

Dinoprostone, a prostaglandin E2 analog, is often used for cervical ripening in patients with a Bishop score that indicates the need for enhancement of cervical readiness. It helps to soften and dilate the cervix, facilitating the process of labor. In a client with a Bishop score of 6, administering dinoprostone is appropriate as it can help improve the score and prepare the cervix for labor induction. This can be particularly helpful if there's a desire to avoid a cesarean delivery.

Other medications such as oxytocin are typically indicated when the cervix is already favorable (higher Bishop score) for induction of labor. Misoprostol, another prostaglandin used for cervical ripening, is also an alternative but may not be the first choice in all clinical guidelines. Ritodrine, a tocolytic agent, is utilized to prevent preterm labor rather than to promote cervical readiness, making it