MOD 8 Flashcards
(19 cards)
How does rectal temperature compare to oral?
Rectal is ~0.5°C higher than oral.
How does axillary temperature compare to oral?
Axillary is ~0.5°C lower than oral.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of tympanic temperature measurement?
Fast, accessible, no repositioning, unaffected by oral intake.
Not suitable for ear surgery patients or those wearing hearing aids.
What causes fever (pyrexia)?
Infections, inflammation, malignancy, heat exhaustion, medications.
Why does heart rate increase during a fever?
Increased metabolic rate, vasodilation, and oxygen demand.
Why is fever harder to detect in older adults?
Weaker immune response, poor temp perception, subtle symptoms.
Symptoms of hypothermia
Shivering, cold/pale skin, bradycardia, slow cap refill, slow respiration
Key nursing management for fever or hypothermia?
Monitor vitals, hydration, neuro status, give antibiotics or rewarming.
What is nociceptive pain?
Pain from tissue damage (e.g., burn, fracture), sharp/throbbing.
What is neuropathic pain?
Pain from nerve damage (e.g., diabetic neuropathy), burning/shooting.
What is nociplastic pain?
Pain with no clear injury, from altered CNS processing (e.g., fibromyalgia).
What does the PQRST mean in pain assessment?
Provoking factors, quality, region/radiation, scale, time
What scale is used to assess pain in children who can’t self-report?
FLACC scale.
What scale is used to assess pain in patients with dementia?
PAINAD scale
What is a clinical risk assessment?
A structured method to identify and manage potential harm in care.
What are common clinical risks?
Falls, pressure injuries, infection, med errors, undetected deterioration.
Name 3 risk assessment tools.
FRAT (falls), Braden scale (pressure injury), EWS (early warning).
What are falls prevention strategies?
Low beds, non-slip socks, hourly rounds, bed alarms.
What are pressure injury prevention strategies?
Repositioning, pressure-relief devices, good nutrition.
