Fever management practises: what pediatric nurses say

Abstract

Pediatric nurses manage fevers in hospitalized children daily: a complex practise. The present study identified varied decision-making criteria and inconsistent practise influenced by many external variables. Nurses perform comprehensive assessments in order to make informed decisions. However, factors influencing their practise include medical orders, the temperament of the child, a history of febrile convulsions, parental requests, colleagues and ward norms. Nurses have a 'temperature' at which they consider a child febrile (37.2-39.0 degrees C) and many reported a 'temperature' at which they administered antipyretics (37.5-39.0 degrees C). Antipyretics were administered to febrile children for pain relief, irritability, at the request of parents and to settle a child for the night. Administration was reported to be higher during the day and evening shifts, at medication rounds and when the ward was busy. At night, nurses were reluctant to wake a sleeping febrile child, preferring to observe them instead. Recommendations to promote consistent fever management practises are included.