Explanation

The first action the nurse should take is to auscultate the client's bowel sounds. The presence or absence of bowel sounds provides important information about GI function and helps guide further interventions. Normal bowel sounds suggest that the bowel is recovering from surgery and that conservative measures like ambulation and oral fluids may be appropriate. Absent or hyperactive bowel sounds could indicate a complication such as paralytic ileus or obstruction that requires medical management.

Administering a stimulant laxative without assessing bowel sounds could worsen an obstruction or cause cramping and diarrhea. Notifying the physician may be necessary based on the assessment findings but is not the initial step. Increasing the IV fluid rate could help prevent dehydration from the NPO status but does not directly address the bowel function issue.