A nurse is admitting a school-age child who has osteomyelitis. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

A. Record intake and output: Monitoring intake and output is important for overall care, especially if the child is receiving IV therapy. However, this is not the priority action when initially admitting a child with suspected osteomyelitis. B. Request a referral for physical therapy: Physical therapy may be beneficial later in the treatment course to restore mobility and function. It is not a priority during the acute phase of infection when diagnostic and medical interventions take precedence. C. Administer IV antibiotics: IV antibiotics are the mainstay of treatment for osteomyelitis, but they should be started after cultures are obtained. Giving antibiotics first could alter culture results and compromise accurate pathogen identification. D. Obtain a blood culture: Blood cultures should be obtained before initiating antibiotic therapy to identify the causative organism. This ensures the child receives the most effective, targeted treatment, making it the priority initial action.