Question

Which clinical findings specific to moderate hypothermia would the nurse expect the client who was found injured in a snowbank to exhibit?

A) Shivering and confusion
B) Stupor and muscle stiffness
C) Loss of consciousness and dilated pupils
D) Warm skin and increased heart rate

Answer 1

Moderate hypothermia in someone who was found injured in a snowbank typically presents with shivering and confusion, as the body attempts to generate heat and conserve energy, which can then progress to more severe symptoms if not treated. B) Stupor and muscle stiffness

Step-by-step explanation:

The clinical findings specific to moderate hypothermia that a nurse would expect in a client found injured in a snowbank include shivering and confusion. These symptoms occur as the body's initial response to cold with shivering generating heat to combat the cold, and energy depletion leading to confusion. As hypothermia progresses, more severe symptoms such as stupor, muscle stiffness, loss of consciousness, and dilated pupils can develop.

This is due to the body's reduced blood circulation to extremities and consequential decreased oxygen available for essential functions such as ATP production, impacting the brain and other organs. However, warm skin and increased heart rate are not symptoms of hypothermia; instead, hypothermia is characterized by slower heart rate and decreased strength of heart contractions.