Question

The nurse attempts to notify a health care provider about a client’s elevated temperature but does not get a response. Which statement, if documented by the nurse, would indicate that the nurse is following proper protocol for nursing documentation?

Answer 1

Answer:

1300: Client temperature elevated. Telephoned health care provider's service 3 times without a response. Tepid sponge bath given and nursing supervisor notified.

Explanation:

A healthy adult is expected to have an average body temperature around 37 ° C. Values above 38ºC in healthy people represent hyperthermia, which is the loss of the ability to control body temperature, resulting in a marked increase in a patient's body temperature. This increase, considered severe when the body temperature exceeds 40ºC, deregulates the whole organism and affects body systems, which can have serious consequences. When an inpatient has a very high body temperature, nurses must notify the doctor promptly so that the necessary procedures are applied.

If the nurse contacts a physician for a case of a patient with a high body temperature, and the physician does not respond to contact, the nurse should follow the appropriate protocol and document the case as:

1300: Client temperature elevated. Telephoned health care provider's service 3 times without a response. Tepid sponge bath given and nursing supervisor notified.