A patient with sepsis shows signs of declining blood pressure and increased heart rate. Which action should the nurse prioritize?

A. Provide oxygen therapy: While supplemental oxygen ensures adequate arterial saturation, it does not correct the underlying distributive shock seen in sepsis. The primary issue is a lack of effective circulating volume due to systemic vasodilation and capillary leak. Oxygen is an adjunct but does not restore perfusion. B. Administer IV fluids promptly: Sepsis-induced hypotension is driven by a relative and absolute hypovolemia that compromises tissue perfusion. Rapid crystalloid infusion is the first-line intervention to expand intravascular volume and increase mean arterial pressure. Restoring hemodynamic stability is the most critical priority to prevent multiple organ dysfunction. C. Apply warm blankets: Patients in septic shock may experience hypothermia or rigors, but thermal regulation is a supportive measure rather than a life-saving one. Applying blankets does not address the precipitous drop in blood pressure or the compensatory tachycardia. It is a comfort-based intervention following circulatory stabilization. D. Administer antipyretics: Fever is a common manifestation of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome in sepsis, and reducing it may lower metabolic demand. However, treating the temperature does not resolve the circulatory collapse or the underlying hypoperfusion state. Hemodynamic resuscitation with intravenous fluids must take precedence.