Question

The OR nurse is participating in the appendectomy of a 20 year-old female patient who has a dangerously low body mass index. The nurse recognizes the patients consequent risk for hypothermia. What action should the nurse implement to prevent the development of hypothermia? A) Ensure that IV fluids are warmed to the patients body temperature. B) Transfuse packed red blood cells to increase oxygen carrying capacity. C) Place warmed bags of normal saline at strategic points around the patients body. D) Monitor the patients blood pressure and heart rate vigilantly.

Answer 1

To prevent hypothermia in a patient with a low body mass index, the OR nurse should ensure that IV fluids are warmed to the patient's body temperature and place warmed bags of normal saline at strategic points around the patient's body.

Step-by-step explanation:

In surgical settings, hypothermia, or a dangerously low body temperature, is a common risk, especially for patients with a low body mass index like the case in this question. The OR nurse, recognizing this, should implement certain measures to prevent the development of hypothermia. The correct answer to this question is

A) Ensure that IV fluids are warmed to the patient's body temperature and

C) Place warmed bags of normal saline at strategic points around the patient's body

. Both these measures help to heat the patient's body from within (using warmed IV fluids) and from the outside (using warmed saline bags), thereby helping to maintain a stable body temperature. Transfusing packed red blood cells and monitoring the patient's blood pressure and heart rate, while important, are not the primary actions for preventing hypothermia in this case.

Learn more about Preventing Hypothermia