There is nothing else wrong - He is fine just has a fever

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Specializes in ER, Psych, Telephone Triage.

how often do you get a pt. with c/o fever and as we all know we gotta go thru these endless protocol it's like reading thru the dead sea scrolls.

the caller is not happy that you ask all of these protocol questions and answers "no he just has a fever" to everything i mean even after you give a rationale for your questions they still have to remain oppositional and abnoxious!

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Specializes in ER, OR, PACU, Pre-Op, Recovery, Med-Surg.

Actually, it IS possible for a kiddo to just have a fever and nothing else. If this is the case, especially in a young child or baby, then they need to go immediately to the ER for a septic workup. In other words, if the source of the fever is not easily explained, then it could be something internal. A septic child can crash and die rather quickly.

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Specializes in ER, Psych, Telephone Triage.

Off Course he can be Septic with just a fever but we are still obligated to go thru the entire protocol to see if any other symptoms are present

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Specializes in ER, OR, PACU, Pre-Op, Recovery, Med-Surg.

Well...yeah, of course. Because if you find something that explains the fever, then you can stop the septic workup and treat the source of infection.

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Specializes in Nursing Education.

For a newborn with only fever...yes, ER right away. But older kids, if the fever really is the only sx...normal activity, eating/drinking/voiding wnl...and the fever has been there less than 24 hours I would keep an eye on it. And probably just educate the parent about the purpose of fever.

I get a kick out of the parents who call because their child has a "really high fever" of 101. But it always makes me feel good to know that I can make them feel a little less anxious about it.

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