To palpate uterine activity, the nurse places her hand:

Palpating uterine activity involves assessing the tone and contractions of the uterus. The most effective method for this is to place the hand on the fundus of the uterus. The fundus is the top rounded part of the uterus, and it is where the contractions can be felt most distinctly. By placing a hand there, the nurse can evaluate the frequency, intensity, and duration of the contractions, as they are strongest at the fundal area.

Placing the hand on the side of the abdomen may not provide accurate information about uterine contractions, as the contractions may not be felt as strongly at that location. Similarly, positioning the hand above the pelvis does not target the area of the uterus that effectively shows contraction patterns. Lastly, placing the hand near the cervix is also not useful for assessing the contraction itself, as the cervix is lower in the pelvis and would not provide a clear indication of uterine activity. Therefore, the fundus is the optimal location for palpation during uterine contraction assessment.