A nurse is caring for an adolescent who has hyperthermia.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A.
Cover the adolescent with a thermal blanket
B.
Submerge the adolescent’s feet in ice water
C.
Initiate seizure precautions
D.
Administer oral acetaminophen
The Correct answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is D. Administer oral acetaminophen.
Explanation
Hyperthermia, commonly referred to as an elevated body temperature, occurs when the body’s heat-regulating mechanisms are overwhelmed or impaired. For an adolescent with hyperthermia, the primary goal is to manage and reduce the elevated temperature safely and effectively. Here’s why administering oral acetaminophen is the appropriate action and why the other options are less suitable:
- Administer Oral Acetaminophen:
- Mechanism: Acetaminophen (Tylenol) works by acting on the hypothalamus, the part of the brain responsible for regulating body temperature. It helps reduce fever by lowering the set point of the hypothalamic thermostat. This makes it effective in managing hyperthermia.
- Safety: Oral acetaminophen is generally well-tolerated and can be administered at home or in a healthcare setting with proper dosing.
- Indication: In cases of mild to moderate hyperthermia, acetaminophen can help manage the symptoms and provide comfort to the adolescent.
- Cover the Adolescent with a Thermal Blanket:
- Inappropriate: A thermal blanket is designed to keep the body warm, which is counterproductive in the case of hyperthermia. Covering an individual with a thermal blanket can exacerbate the problem by trapping more heat, further increasing the body temperature.
- Submerge the Adolescent’s Feet in Ice Water:
- Risk: Immersing only the feet in ice water is not an effective method for managing hyperthermia and can potentially lead to discomfort or adverse effects, such as vasoconstriction or hypothermia in other parts of the body. Additionally, localized cooling does not address the systemic nature of hyperthermia effectively.
- Initiate Seizure Precautions:
- Unnecessary: Seizure precautions are typically considered for individuals with a history of seizures or those who are at high risk for seizures. While severe hyperthermia can potentially lead to seizures, initiating seizure precautions is not the immediate or primary intervention for managing the elevated body temperature itself.
In summary, administering oral acetaminophen is the most appropriate action to take for an adolescent with hyperthermia, as it directly targets the elevated temperature in a safe and effective manner.