Question

The nurse in female medical ward admits a 50 years old female patient around 1300hrs complaining of productive cough and generalized body pains for 5 days.The patient also reports long standing hotness the body accompanied of fluctuations in body temperature for several months since summer began. On examination vital sings were recorded as follows BP 110/70 mmHg, Temperature 38.5°c Pulse 112 beats/minute Respirations 20 breaths per minute regular.

A. Explain any three factors that could lead to the patients rise in body temperature.
B Discuss three mechanisms of heat loss that the nurse would employ in reducing the patients temperature.

Answer 1

The patient's rise in body temperature could be due to infection, inflammation, or metabolic disturbances. To reduce fever, nurses can employ evaporation, conduction, and radiation as mechanisms of heat loss.

Step-by-step explanation:

Factors Leading to Rise in Body Temperature

The rise in body temperature in a patient can be influenced by several factors:

1. Infection: Viral or bacterial infections can cause a fever as the body's immune system elevates the temperature to fight off the pathogens.
2. Inflammation: Conditions characterized by inflammation, such as inflammatory diseases or reactions to treatments like chemotherapy, can result in increased body temperature.
3. Metabolic disturbances: Conditions like hyperthyroidism can produce excess heat due to increased metabolic activity.

Mechanisms of Heat Loss

To reduce a patient's temperature, a nurse might employ various mechanisms of heat loss which include:

1. Evaporation: Using a fan or cool mist to promote evaporative cooling from the skin's surface.
2. Conduction: Applying a cold pack or cool compresses to transfer heat away from the body.
3. Radiation: Ensuring that the patient's environment is cooler than their body temperature to allow heat to radiate away from the body.