Final answer:
The primary nursing intervention for hypothermia should be to assess vital signs to dictate immediate treatment actions, followed by removing wet clothing, providing warmth, and administering IV fluids if necessary.
Step-by-step explanation:
The priority nursing intervention for a patient suspected of hypothermia is to assess vital signs. This is crucial to understand the patient's current physiological state and to dictate further immediate interventions. If the vital signs indicate a severe drop in the core body temperature, the nurse should then swiftly move to remove wet clothes from the patient, as they can perpetuate the loss of body heat. Once the patient is dry, the nurse can provide a warm blanket to reduce further heat loss and slowly rewarms the patient. Intravenous (IV) fluids may be necessary, particularly if the patient has a fluid deficit. In the case of hypothermia, warmed IV fluids can aid in raising the body's core temperature.
When a dehydrated human patient needs IV fluids, they are typically given an isotonic saline solution, which is balanced to the body fluids and helps to restore the electrolyte balance and blood volume without causing cell damage or fluid shifts