Current nursing practices in fever management.

Abstract

Data regarding fever management were obtained through a retrospective or concurrent review of the medical records of 150 patients. For 41% of the patients studied, nurses notified physicians of the fever episode. The decision to treat fever was significantly influenced by fever intensity and the drawing of blood cultures, but not by age, length of hospital stay, or the duration of the fever episode. Despite recent evidence of the protective value of fever, the majority of fever episodes were treated. Acetaminophen alone, and acetaminophen in combination with physical cooling methods, were effective in lowering fever.