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

A. Administer IV antibiotics: While timely antibiotic administration is critical for treating osteomyelitis, obtaining cultures before starting antibiotics ensures accurate identification of the causative organism and appropriate therapy. B. Obtain a blood culture: Collecting blood cultures first is the priority to identify the infection source and guide targeted antibiotic treatment. This step should precede antibiotic administration whenever possible. C. Request a referral for physical therapy: Physical therapy is an important part of the long-term management of osteomyelitis to maintain mobility and prevent complications. However, it is not the immediate priority; identifying and treating the infection takes precedence. D. Record intake and output: Monitoring fluid balance is important for overall care but does not take precedence over identifying the infectious agent and initiating treatment.