A nurse in an acute care mental health facility is participating in a medication education group. The leader of the group uses a laissez-faire leadership style. Which of the following actions should the nurse expect from the leader during the session?

Pyrexia, also known as fever, refers to an elevated body temperature that is above the normal range. The normal body temperature is typically around 37°C (98.6°F), and a temperature of 38.4°C (101.1°F) indicates a fever.

Alternative Choices:

1. "tachycardia" due to "heart rate of 92/min"

• Incorrect. Tachycardia refers to an abnormally high heart rate, usually above 100 beats per minute (bpm) in adults. A heart rate of 92/min is within normal limits and does not qualify as tachycardia.

2. "hypertension" due to "blood pressure of 130/78 mm Hg"

• Incorrect. Hypertension is defined as having a blood pressure reading consistently above 140/90 mm Hg. The reading of 130/78 mm Hg falls into the elevated category but does not reach the threshold for hypertension.

3. "respiratory distress" due to "respiratory rate of 18/min"

• Incorrect. A respiratory rate of 18 breaths per minute is considered normal for adults, so this finding does not indicate respiratory distress.

4. "obesity" due to "current BMI of 29.9"

• Partially correct. A BMI of 29.9 places the client in the "overweight" category, just below the threshold for obesity (BMI of 30 or higher). However, the presence of pyrexia is the more immediate clinical concern based on the provided vital signs.

Based on the client's sudden right-sided numbness, weakness of the arm and leg, and distinct right-sided facial droop, the nurse should suspect a possible stroke and prioritize immediate interventions. After reporting the findings to the healthcare provider and receiving prescriptions, the nurse should implement the following intervention:

Notify the stroke team to assist with acute assessment and management. A stroke is a medical emergency that requires urgent intervention and specialized care. The stroke team is trained to quickly assess and manage stroke patients, including performing necessary diagnostic tests and initiating appropriate treatment. In this case, a STAT computerized tomography (CT) scan of the head has been ordered, indicating the need to evaluate the client's brain for possible ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke.

While keeping the bed in the lowest position and initiating seizure and fall precautions may be important considerations for stroke patients, notifying the stroke team takes precedence as they are specifically trained to manage acute stroke cases.

Administering aspirin to prevent further clot formation and platelet clumping is not appropriate without further assessment and confirmation of the type of stroke.

Additionally, testing for a swallowing reflex and performing communication deficit assessments can be important components of the overall stroke management plan, but they should be carried out by the stroke team or as directed by the healthcare provider.