A critically ill patient who is being mechanically ventilated has a temperature of 97.8°F.What nursing intervention is priority?
A)Cover the patient with a warming blanket.
B)Communicate with the provider.
C)Increase frequency of turning and repositioning the patient.
D)Increase the amount of humidification given via the ventilator.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A critically ill patient who is mechanically ventilated with a low temperature could indicate an underlying issue such as sepsis, medication side effect, or other infectious process. Therefore, the priority nursing intervention would be to communicate with the provider to determine the underlying cause and initiate appropriate treatment. While thermoregulation is important, it is not the priority in this case.

A Critically Ill Patient Who Is Being Mechanically Ventilated Has