The nurse has reviewed the Vital Signs at 1000. For each potential provider prescription, click to specify if the prescription is anticipated or non-anticipated for the client.

• Administer aspirin for fever: Aspirin is generally avoided postoperatively due to its antiplatelet effect, which increases the risk of bleeding. Fever in the immediate post-thyroidectomy period is usually managed with acetaminophen or by identifying underlying causes such as infection or inflammation, not aspirin. • Apply cooling blanket: While the client’s temperature is slightly elevated (38.3° C / 100.9° F), mild post-operative fever is common and typically monitored rather than treated with aggressive external cooling. Cooling blankets are not standard unless the client develops hyperpyrexia or malignant hyperthermia. • Monitor vital signs every 4 hours: In the immediate post-operative period, vital signs should be monitored more frequently than every 4 hours, especially after thyroidectomy, due to the risk of airway compromise, bleeding, or hemodynamic instability. PACU monitoring typically occurs continuously or at much shorter intervals. • Place client on telemetry: After thyroidectomy, clients are at risk for cardiac complications, including arrhythmias due to rapid shifts in thyroid hormone levels or electrolyte imbalances. Continuous cardiac monitoring via telemetry is a standard precaution in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and supports early detection of complications. • Palpate thyroid area to assess for hematoma: Following thyroid surgery, neck hematoma can compress the airway and become life-threatening. Assessing the surgical site frequently for swelling, firmness, or bleeding is a routine and expected post-operative intervention. Prompt identification allows immediate intervention if airway compromise develops.