Reference no: EM133601627

A 35-year-old female patient arrived in the PACU with the anesthesia provider and OR nurse at 10 a.m. after a laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed under general anesthesia. You received a report that included the patient history, which is unremarkable, and anesthetic agents used during the case. When you turned to ask a question about the patient's incision sites, the anesthesia provider and OR nurse had already returned to the OR for the next case. Vital signs are: BP 180/90 mmHg, HR 100 bpm, RR 24/minute, oxygen saturation 98% on 2L of O2 via nasal cannula (NC), and an admission temperature of 95.9°F (35.5°C). The patient's pain level on admission was 9/10. Twenty minutes after giving the patient 2.5 mg of IV morphine for pain, the vitals are now BP 150/78, HR 88, RR 16, oxygen saturation 95% on 2L of O2 via NC. The patient now reports mild nausea and a pain level of 7/10. What is the appropriate response to this patient's admission temperature? Nothing.

The temperature is within normal range, Apply a warm blanket, Give meperidine (Demerol®) to increase the temperature, Apply a forced warm-air device, such as a Bair Hugger^TM