Which client’s fever requires immediate attention?

When determining which client's fever requires immediate attention, it's crucial to consider the underlying conditions and the associated risks. In the case of the client with colon cancer and a fever of 100.4 F, this may indicate a potential infection or complication, especially since cancer patients are often at a higher risk for febrile neutropenia, which can occur if their immune system is compromised due to the malignancy or its treatment.

Fever in cancer patients can be a sign of serious infection, particularly if they are neutropenic or have had recent chemotherapy. Any fever that occurs might indicate sepsis or other complications, which require prompt evaluation and treatment to prevent deterioration.

In contrast, while the other clients also present with fevers, their specific circumstances (such as being stable, having known infectious processes that may not require immediate intervention, or having lower-grade fevers) may not necessitate as urgent a response. For example, the client with Hodgkin lymphoma has a relatively lower fever of 100.9 F, and while a fever is concerning in this context, it is not as immediate as in the case of the colon cancer patient.

The critical point is that in oncology patients, even lower-grade fevers can be indicative of serious underlying issues