NUR170 EXAM 4 2026 EXAM PREP STUDY
GUIDE COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW
◉ Respiration. Answer: Cool air inhaled and warmed then exhaled
◉ What is the primary site for heat loss. Answer: Skin is the primary
site for heat loss
◉ Factors Affecting Body Temperature. Answer: Age
Circadian Rhythms
Exercise
Hormones
Stress
Environment
◉ Age Affecting Body Temperature. Answer: Infants affected by
environment
Child's temperature more variable until puberty
Elderly at risk for hypothermia
Inadequate diet
Loss of subcutaneous fat
Lack of activity
,Reduced thermoregulatory efficiency (this is a normal part of aging)
Sensitive to extremes in environmental temperature
Have a lower average body temperature than younger adults which
puts them at risk for being more sensitive to extreme temperatures
Children all the way up til puberty are more susceptible to changes
in temperature due to environment
◉ Circadian rhythm Affecting Body Temperature. Answer:
Temperature lowest in morning...1-4 am
Highest in late afternoon...4-8pm
A patients body temperature may vary up to 1ᵒ C or 1.8 ᵒ F
◉ Hormones Affecting Body Temperature. Answer: Female
progesterone secretion during ovulation raises body temp by 0.5ᵒ -
1ᵒ F above basal
Menopause- "hot flashes"
◉ Stress Affecting Body Temperature. Answer: Physical and
emotional stress increase body temperature
Increasing metabolic activity and heat production
◉ Environment Affecting Body Temperature. Answer: Infants, older
adults
,◉ Assessment for Thermoregulation. Answer: Body temperature -
Celsius or Fahrenheit
Oral - wait 30 minutes after smoking, eating or drinking
Rectal - lubricate
Contraindicated for patients with diarrhea, disease or surgery of the
rectum, immunosuppression, clotting disorders, or significant
hemorrhoids.
Tympanic - ear canal
Axillary - preferred for newborns
Forehead - chemical or temporal artery thermometer
◉ Diagnostic Tests for Thermoreguation. Answer: To determine
cause of fever
Monitor CBC with differential
WBC
Shows us if they have an infection
RBC
Platelets
H/H
Low Hemoglobin could indicate anemia
Diagnose type of infection if applicable
Listen to the patients symptoms
, It is not always indicated to treat a patients fever it just depends on
why the patient is having a fever
◉ Clinical Management: Primary Prevention for Thermoregulation.
Answer: Avoid exposure to temperature extremes
Maintain the optimal ambient temperature in the home
Dress appropriately for the temperature
Engage in physical activity appropriate to temperature conditions
◉ Temperature Alterations- Fever. Answer: -Pyrexia (fever):
important defense mechanism
Bacteria, viruses
Febrile/afebrile
Febrile: Has a fever
Afebrile: does not have a fever
Fever of unknown origin (FUO)
-Symptoms:
Flushing
Warm or hot skin
Increased metabolic rate
Increased need for fluids, tachycardia, tachypnea
GUIDE COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW
◉ Respiration. Answer: Cool air inhaled and warmed then exhaled
◉ What is the primary site for heat loss. Answer: Skin is the primary
site for heat loss
◉ Factors Affecting Body Temperature. Answer: Age
Circadian Rhythms
Exercise
Hormones
Stress
Environment
◉ Age Affecting Body Temperature. Answer: Infants affected by
environment
Child's temperature more variable until puberty
Elderly at risk for hypothermia
Inadequate diet
Loss of subcutaneous fat
Lack of activity
,Reduced thermoregulatory efficiency (this is a normal part of aging)
Sensitive to extremes in environmental temperature
Have a lower average body temperature than younger adults which
puts them at risk for being more sensitive to extreme temperatures
Children all the way up til puberty are more susceptible to changes
in temperature due to environment
◉ Circadian rhythm Affecting Body Temperature. Answer:
Temperature lowest in morning...1-4 am
Highest in late afternoon...4-8pm
A patients body temperature may vary up to 1ᵒ C or 1.8 ᵒ F
◉ Hormones Affecting Body Temperature. Answer: Female
progesterone secretion during ovulation raises body temp by 0.5ᵒ -
1ᵒ F above basal
Menopause- "hot flashes"
◉ Stress Affecting Body Temperature. Answer: Physical and
emotional stress increase body temperature
Increasing metabolic activity and heat production
◉ Environment Affecting Body Temperature. Answer: Infants, older
adults
,◉ Assessment for Thermoregulation. Answer: Body temperature -
Celsius or Fahrenheit
Oral - wait 30 minutes after smoking, eating or drinking
Rectal - lubricate
Contraindicated for patients with diarrhea, disease or surgery of the
rectum, immunosuppression, clotting disorders, or significant
hemorrhoids.
Tympanic - ear canal
Axillary - preferred for newborns
Forehead - chemical or temporal artery thermometer
◉ Diagnostic Tests for Thermoreguation. Answer: To determine
cause of fever
Monitor CBC with differential
WBC
Shows us if they have an infection
RBC
Platelets
H/H
Low Hemoglobin could indicate anemia
Diagnose type of infection if applicable
Listen to the patients symptoms
, It is not always indicated to treat a patients fever it just depends on
why the patient is having a fever
◉ Clinical Management: Primary Prevention for Thermoregulation.
Answer: Avoid exposure to temperature extremes
Maintain the optimal ambient temperature in the home
Dress appropriately for the temperature
Engage in physical activity appropriate to temperature conditions
◉ Temperature Alterations- Fever. Answer: -Pyrexia (fever):
important defense mechanism
Bacteria, viruses
Febrile/afebrile
Febrile: Has a fever
Afebrile: does not have a fever
Fever of unknown origin (FUO)
-Symptoms:
Flushing
Warm or hot skin
Increased metabolic rate
Increased need for fluids, tachycardia, tachypnea
