The nurse is caring for a shivering 66-year-old patient immediately after back surgery under general anesthesia.Which nursing intervention is most suitable for this patient?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

To warm the patient,the nurse applies warm blankets or a warming device to eliminate shivering because shivering consumes massive amounts of oxygen in skeletal muscle.If the patient has a respiratory or cardiovascular problem,shivering potentially aggravates it significantly.Medication is not indicated for shivering unless it becomes unresolved.The nurse applies a cooling mat in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU)to the patient with an elevated body temperature from infection or from malignant hyperthermia to save the patient's life and vital organs.Shivering is much more common than malignant hyperthermia,which has a very high fatality rate; most patients die from malignant hyperthermia in the operating room.Telling the patient that this is expected does nothing to relieve the shivering.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Shivering 66-Year-Old Patient Immediately