One day after vaginal delivery of a full-term baby, a postpartum client's white blood cell (WBC) count is 15,000/mm3 (15x 10/L). Which action should the nurse take first? Reference Range: White Blood Cell 5,000 to 10,000/mm3 (5 to 10 10/L)]

Rationale: A. Assess the client's perineal area for signs of a perineal hematoma: While important, there is no indication from the question that suggests a hematoma. This is not the priority. B. Check the differential, since the WBC is normal for this client: After childbirth, it is normal for WBC levels to increase (often up to 20,000–30,000/mm³) due to the physiological stress of labor. Therefore, a WBC of 15,000/mm³ on postpartum day 1 is expected and not immediately concerning. The nurse should recognize this as normal and can review the differential if needed, but no urgent intervention is required. C. Assess the client's temperature, heart rate, and respirations every 4 hours: Vital signs monitoring is important, but direct assessment of the perineum takes priority to identify a potential source of infection or hematoma. D. Notify the healthcare provider (HCP), since this finding is indicative of infection: Notification is appropriate if a source of infection is identified, but initial assessment must occur first to provide accurate information and guide interventions.