Question

The nurse suspects a patient of having heatstroke. Which signs and symptoms should the nurse look for in the patient?

1) Increased body temperature
2) Headache and dizziness
3) Nausea and vomiting
4) Rapid heartbeat and breathing

Answer 1

A nurse should look for signs and symptoms of heatstroke such as increased body temperature, rapid heartbeat, headache, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. These will help in assessing the likelihood of heatstroke, which requires immediate medical attention.

Step-by-step explanation:

When suspecting heatstroke, a nurse should look for multiple signs and symptoms, which can be divided into vital signs and physical symptoms. Vital signs are objective and include an increased body temperature, often exceeding 40 °C (104 °F), and rapid heartbeat. Physical symptoms, which are subjective, can involve headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and additional symptoms such as confusion or muscle cramps.

The nurse should assess these symptoms along with the patient's medical history, recent activities, and possible exposure to high environmental temperatures to determine the likelihood of heatstroke. Immediate medical treatment is vital as heatstroke can lead to complications like organ failure or even death if not promptly and properly managed.