Unfriending Fever

[RobbiRN, RN]

I'm curious about the approach to fever in your workplace. In our ER, the Providers routinely treat fevers as low as 99.5 F and ask for a recheck temp before the patient is discharged. When did fever become the enemy? There is an abundance of research documenting the benefits of fever, primarily its stimulating effect on the body's immune system while creating an environment hostile to pathogens -- most bacteria and viruses die or can no longer replicated at about 102 F. Have we gotten so fixated on instant fixes that we disable healing to feel better? How are you managing fever where you work?

[Oh'Ello, BSN, RN]

We typically halt the fever above 38C if the patient is symptomatic. We do this, and I emphasize "typically" because the associated symptoms that come along with the fever put our patients at higher risk for negative outcomes. Many of our patients can't tolerate even transient periods of significant bp change, tachycardia or tachypnea. Even rigors in some of our rad neck dissection patients can get pretty scary, so most of the time they get the AC, and anti-pyretic.

[Davey Do]

When did fever become the enemy?

I know!

How are you managing fever where you work?

I give the patient info on fever being the body's natural way of dealing with infection and then let them decide if they want an antipyretic.

[quitor1moretry]

Its about reimbursement. Hospitals will contract with different insurance companies how much money they get for a a lap chole. Aetna will pay 5,000.00. The fastwr the patient is discharged, the more profit the hospital makes. This is why we don't check vitals, and especially temps, right before a patient is discharged. If the patients returns to the ER with a fever malaise n/v... New insurance dollars.

[klone, MSN, RN]

I remember going into the ED once because I had influenza and was afraid it was turning to pneumonia. The triage nurse took my temp and it was 104. She asked me when I had last taken something for the fever, and was appalled when I told her I hadn't. I honestly was curious to see how high it would get!

[Wolf at the Door, BSN]

I thought this thread was about Facebook

[Swellz]

I thought this thread was about Facebook

ME TOO!

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

Way back in the day when I was a brand new nurse working noc shift on a LDRP ward I called a physician to report a Fever of 100 degrees on a fresh post C-section patient. He was a actually very kind to me but stated that the fever was part of the normal inflammatory response to having your belly opened up and a baby being pulled out. He noted that I could g ahead and give Tylenol or the ordered Vicodin if the patient's temp went over 101 or the pt was co of pain.

Hppy