A client admitted with possible sepsis. Which action will the nurse perform first.

A. Give an antipyretic: Administering antipyretics can help reduce fever and improve comfort, but it does not address the underlying infection or guide treatment decisions. While important for symptom management, it is not the first priority in suspected sepsis. B. Obtain ordered cultures: Collecting blood, urine, or other cultures before administering antibiotics is critical to identify the causative pathogen. Timely culture collection ensures accurate microbiologic diagnosis, guides targeted antibiotic therapy, and is a key component of sepsis management protocols. C. Place the client in isolation: Isolation precautions are important if the client has a communicable infection, but isolation alone does not treat sepsis or prevent its rapid progression. It is a supportive measure rather than the first priority in emergent sepsis care. D. Administer antibiotics: Early administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics is essential in sepsis care and should follow culture collection. Administering antibiotics promptly after obtaining cultures improves outcomes and reduces mortality, but obtaining cultures first ensures that therapy can be tailored once the pathogen is identified.