The nurse notes that a terminally ill patient has cold extremities despite being saturated with sweat. What should the nurse do?
A) Place the patient on a cooling blanket.
B) Place a fan in the room, angled to cool the patient's torso.
C) Change the gown and cover the arms and legs with a blanket.
D) Increase the room temperature and remove blankets from the patient.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient's symptoms suggest they are experiencing cold due to sweat evaporation, not because the environment is too cold. Changing the gown to something dry and covering the arms and legs with a blanket will help warm the patient by reducing further heat loss through evaporation and conduction.

The Nurse Notes That a Terminally Ill Patient Has Cold