The patient is exhibiting signs of meningitis and associated elevated intracranial pressure. There is a small risk for brain herniation in patients with elevated intracranial pressure who undergo lumbar puncture (LP) due to fluid shift. Therefore, it is appropriate to take the patient for an MRI scan prior to performing the LP. Obtaining a specimen for blood cultures and administering dexamethasone intravenously are both appropriate interventions and do not harm the patient if performed first.