Joycee Layne is a 17-year-old high school student in her senior year. She is an honors student, works hard to get good grades, and hates to miss school. For the past 3 days, she has not been feeling...

Joycee Layne is a 17-year-old high school student in her senior year. She is an honors student, works hard to get good grades, and hates to miss school. For the past 3 days, she has not been feeling well. This morning her temperature is 39°C (102.2°F), and she has chills and a headache. Several of her friends at school have the flu. She has taken ibuprofen for fevers and menstrual cramps in the past, but Joycee cannot find any in the house as she gets ready to head off to school. Her parents have already left for work, and they trust her to check with you, the nurse who lives next door, before taking any medication. Joycee calls you to ask if it is “OK to take the aspirin her mom uses for her arthritis so she can go to school?” As the nurse, this presents an opportunity for you to teach Joycee about aspirin and her fever.

1. Describe the pathophysiology of fever and inflammation.

2. Why is aspirin administered for fever?

3. Should Joycee take the aspirin? Why or why not?

4. What will you teach Joycee about aspirin and the flulike symptoms she is having? What additional patient teaching will she need?