When a client shows signs of a bacterial sepsis reaction after a transfusion, what is the first intervention the nurse should implement?

The correct approach in this scenario is to obtain blood for cultures as the first intervention. This action is crucial because it allows for the identification of the specific bacteria responsible for the sepsis reaction, which is critical in guiding effective treatment. Culturing the blood helps confirm that a bacterial infection is indeed present and can provide the necessary information to tailor antibiotic therapy effectively.

Additionally, timely culture collection is essential because the results can inform the healthcare team about the appropriate antibiotics to initiate. While monitoring vital signs and notifying the blood bank are important follow-up actions, obtaining blood cultures first directly addresses the need for accurate diagnosis, which is a foundational aspect of managing sepsis. Administering antibiotics, while vital in treating infection, should ideally follow the culture collection to ensure that the results are not affected by the antibiotic treatment. Hence, the priority lies in obtaining specimens to guide treatment appropriately.