Pale, clammy skin

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Specializes in Rehabilitation; LTC; Med-Surg.

Hello,

At clinical rotations tonight I shadowed an LVN taking care of six patients on an oncology floor at the hospital. One patient in particular prompted some concern for me comfort wise. His skin was very cool and clammy. He is receiving blood. Aside from all the potential medical problems, I am curious what someone here would have done to comfort him. We (the nurse and a CNA) ended up giving him a complete bed bath with cold (not ICE cold, but pretty cool) water. We also put a fan on order for him since he complained of being warm.

Is the cool bed bath the only real comfort we could have provided? Or could I have caught onto something else, like leaving cool rags on several parts of his body (stomach, chest, head, etc.)?

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

If he was cool and clammy why did you give him a COLD bath?

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Specializes in Rehabilitation; LTC; Med-Surg.
If he was cool and clammy why did you give him a COLD bath?

Because while he was cool and clammy, he was complaining of extreme HEAT that was resolved by cool wash rags.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

What were his VS like?

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

Turn the heat down in the room, give him ice water and cold drinks.

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