What is a primary nursing intervention for a patient experiencing a seizure?

Protecting the patient from injury is a primary nursing intervention during a seizure. This is crucial because seizures can lead to uncontrolled movements, which increases the risk of falls or head trauma, as well as injury from surrounding objects. The nurse should take immediate steps to ensure the patient's safety, such as moving furniture away, placing a soft object under the patient's head, and positioning the patient to the side to prevent aspiration if they vomit.

While administering anticonvulsants is important for the long-term management of seizures, it is not an immediate intervention that addresses the safety of the patient during an ongoing seizure. Restricting movement can introduce additional risk, as forcibly holding a patient during a seizure can cause injury. Providing food and fluids is not appropriate during a seizure due to the risk of choking and is not relevant until the patient is stable and fully alert. Thus, the primary focus during a seizure is to protect the patient from potential harm.