Question

A patient who has recently undergone ESWL for the treatment of renal calculi has phoned the urology unit where he was treated, telling the nurse that he has a temperature of 101.1ºF (38.4ºC). How should the nurse best respond to the patient?

A) Remind the patient that renal calculi have a noninfectious etiology and that a fever is unrelated to their recurrence.
B) Remind the patient that occasional febrile episodes are expected following ESWL.
C) Tell the patient to report to the ED for further assessment.
D) Tell the patient to monitor his temperature for the next 24 hours and then contact his urologist's office.

Answer 1

The best response for a nurse when a post-ESWL patient reports a fever is to advise them to seek immediate medical attention for a potential infection, rather than waiting and monitoring the temperature for 24 hours.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a patient who has recently undergone Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) for renal calculi reports a fever, such as a temperature of 101.1ºF (38.4ºC), this could be indicative of a possible infection. It is important for the nurse to respond with both urgency and care. The nurse should advise the patient to seek immediate medical attention rather than wait for 24 hours. Infections can escalate quickly, and a fever post-procedure might signal the need for prompt antibiotic therapy or further interventions.

Ignoring or delaying the proper treatment in the presence of infection, especially after a recent medical procedure, can result in serious health complications. Therefore, the recommendation would be for the patient to contact their urologist or go to the nearest emergency department for assessment rather than solely monitoring the temperature.