On the third postoperative day, a client develops fever and shivering. The provider orders antibiotics after cultures are drawn. What should the nurse do first?

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When an infection is suspected after surgery, confirming the exact organism before starting treatment is essential. Drawing blood cultures first ensures that the lab can identify the causative organism and its antibiotic sensitivities without the results being altered by prior antibiotic exposure. Since the provider plans to give antibiotics after cultures are drawn, the nurse should perform the blood culture collection first. This step provides accurate information to tailor therapy and improve outcomes.

Other actions don’t address identifying the pathogen or guiding treatment. A cooling blanket treats symptoms but doesn’t yield diagnostic information. Administering antibiotics before cultures can compromise culture results, making it harder to tailor therapy. An antiemetic helps with nausea but doesn’t address the underlying infection.