Fever and Chills Flashcards
What is the definition of a Fever?
o Any temperature greater than 100°F (37.8°C) or increase over baseline of 2°F (1°C) with symptoms
Causes?
o Systemic infections, access infections, contamination of blood or dialysate compartments
Symptoms?
o Nausea, vomiting, headache, hypotension, tachycardia, hot flushed skin, dry mucous membranes
Intervention?
o Nurse must assess and evaluate patient for possible cause of fever
o Notify the treating nephrologist and if ordered by the physician, obtain blood culture(s) per
procedure and send to the laboratory
o Provide for comfort measures, and administer antipyretics as ordered
o Administer antibiotics as ordered
o Schedule patient for permanent access evaluation
Prevention?
o Avoid use of femoral catheters
o Evaluate teammates’ technique
