A nurse is collecting data for a client who is postoperative and has an elevated temperature. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

Rationale: A. Assist the client with dangling off the side of the bed: Early ambulation is important in the postoperative period to prevent complications such as atelectasis or deep vein thrombosis. However, it is not the first action when an elevated temperature is observed, as the cause of the fever must be assessed first. B. Check the condition of the client's surgical incision: Inspecting the surgical site addresses a potential source of infection, which is a common cause of postoperative fever. This direct assessment helps determine whether local inflammation, drainage, or other signs of infection are present and guides further intervention. C. Instruct the client to breathe deeply and cough: Encouraging deep breathing and coughing promotes lung expansion and reduces the risk of atelectasis and pneumonia, other causes of postoperative fever. While beneficial, checking the incision for infection is a more direct and immediate assessment for a common and serious cause of postoperative fever. D. Obtain a prescription to check the client's CBC: A CBC can provide useful information on infection or inflammation, but obtaining lab orders should come after performing a focused assessment to gather immediate, observable data that may warrant urgent action.