During the ongoing seizure, which action should the nurse implement next?

• A. Insert an oral airway into the client's mouth.
• B. Determine if the client is incontinent of urine.
• C. Note the time, duration, and type of seizure.
• D. Notify the neurologist of the client's seizure.

Answer: (C)

The most important thing to establish during an ongoing seizure is objective information about what’s happening. The best next action is to note the time the seizure began, how long it lasts, and what type of seizure is occurring. This timing and characterization are essential for guiding treatment decisions—such as whether rescue medication is needed, and to assess the risk of status epilepticus or a longer escalation of care.

Safety steps are important, but inserting an oral airway during a seizure is not appropriate because it can cause injury and may be ineffective while the patient is actively convulsing. Noting incontinence or signaling a neurologist is important in the broader course of care, but neither provides the immediate data needed to inform the next steps of urgent management as clearly as documenting seizure timing and type.