In addition to respiratory symptoms, which symptom might a nurse expect in a patient who is febrile after surgery?

In a patient who is febrile after surgery, an increased pulse rate is a common physiological response to fever. When the body temperature rises, the heart rate often increases to help circulate blood more rapidly. This mechanism is a part of the body's response to infection or inflammation, as it attempts to deliver more oxygen and nutrients to tissues and assist in the healing process.

Fever triggers metabolic changes that lead to an acceleration of several systems in the body, including the cardiovascular system. Thus, a nurse would expect to see an elevated pulse rate in addition to respiratory symptoms in a febrile postoperative patient, reflecting the body’s effort to combat whatever infection or inflammation is present.

Other symptoms listed, such as bradycardia, leukopenia, and severe headache, do not typically align with the response to fever following surgery. Bradycardia indicates a slower heart rate, which contradicts the expected response to fever. Leukopenia, a decrease in white blood cell count, does not correlate with an increase in body temperature and is more commonly associated with certain types of infections or bone marrow issues. Severe headache may occur for various reasons but isn't a typical response to fever, especially in the context of a postoperative patient.