NANDA-I 2024-2026 edition · Reviewed November 2, 2026 by the editorial team
Diagnosis at a glance
| Code | 00007 |
|---|---|
| Label | Hyperthermia |
| Spanish label | Hipertermia |
| Domain | 11. Safety / protection |
| Class | 6. Thermoregulation |
| Type | Problem-focused |
| Status | Current |
What it means
Body temperature rises above its normal range because the body produces or absorbs more heat than it can get rid of. Causes include infection, environmental heat, exertion or not drinking enough, and nursing targets whatever is keeping the patient from losing heat.
Explanation written by our team. The official definition is in the NANDA-I 2024-2026 book.
When to use it
Clinical situations where it commonly shows up. The diagnosis is confirmed by your assessment, not by the medical diagnosis.
- Infectious processes with fever.
- Exposure to intense environmental heat or heat stroke.
- Dehydration, especially in children and older adults.
- Strenuous exercise in hot environments.
- Drug or transfusion reactions.
- Postoperative temperature elevation that persists beyond the first 48 hours.
What to assess
- Temperature using the same method and site every time, and its trend.
- Heart rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure.
- Skin: hot, flushed, diaphoretic or dry.
- Hydration status: mucous membranes, urine output, intake, capillary refill and, in infants, the fontanel.
- Level of consciousness and, in children, any history of febrile seizures.
- Likely source: infection, environment, medications.
- Clothing and blankets the patient has on and room temperature.
- What the family has done to bring the fever down and what they have given.
Defining characteristics
Assessment findings that support the diagnosis. They go in the "as evidenced by" part of the statement.
- Axillary temperature of 38 °C (100.4 °F) or higher, or the equivalent for the measurement site.
- Skin hot to the touch and flushed.
- Heart rate above the expected range for age.
- Rapid breathing.
- Heavy sweating or, in heat stroke, dry skin.
- Chills or shivering while the temperature is rising.
- Lethargy, irritability or drowsiness.
- In infants, poor feeding and crying that is hard to soothe.
- Confusion or seizures in severe cases.
Related factors
The causes nursing can act on. They go in the "related to" part of the statement.
- Dehydration or inadequate fluid intake.
- Too many layers of clothing or blankets.
- Hot or poorly ventilated environment.
- Strenuous physical activity in hot weather.
- Family's insufficient knowledge of how to manage fever at home.
- Non-breathable clothing or protective gear that traps heat.
At-risk populations
- Infants and young children.
- Older adults, who regulate temperature less effectively and feel less thirst.
- Outdoor workers and athletes during hot weather.
- People with limited mobility who can't remove clothing or ask for water.
- Hospitalized patients with infections or invasive devices.
Associated conditions
- Infections and sepsis.
- Heat stroke.
- Brain injury affecting the temperature-regulating center.
- Hyperthyroidism.
- Transfusion or drug reactions.
- Malignant hyperthermia and neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
How to write it (PES)
Hyperthermia related to dehydration and exposure to a hot environment as evidenced by axillary temperature of 39.2 °C (102.6 °F), hot flushed skin and heart rate of 118 bpm.
Hyperthermia (00007).
The factor nursing can modify: dehydration, the environment, overbundling, activity.
The temperature reading with the method used, plus the signs that accompany it.
Example written by our team for a fictional patient. Adapt it to your own patient's data. Build your statement with the PES generator.
Goals / expected outcomes
Written in measurable terms: what, how much and by when.
- Temperature drops below 38 °C (100.4 °F) within 2 hours of starting the ordered measures.
- Urine output stays above 0.5 mL/kg/h in adults or 1 mL/kg/h in children.
- Mucous membranes remain moist and the patient tolerates oral fluids.
- Heart rate returns to the normal range for age within 4 hours.
- Patient or family explains how to check and manage temperature at home and when to seek care.
Nursing interventions and rationales
| Intervention | Rationale |
|---|---|
| Check temperature every 1 to 4 hours depending on the trend. | Shows whether the measures are working. |
| Give prescribed antipyretics and reassess in 30-60 minutes. | Confirms the effect and guides adjustments. |
| Remove excess clothing and keep the room cool and well ventilated. | Promotes heat loss. |
| Apply cooling measures such as lukewarm compresses if indicated. Do not use alcohol or ice water. | They lower temperature without triggering shivering, which raises it. Alcohol can be absorbed through the skin. |
| Encourage oral fluids or give prescribed IV fluids. | Fever increases water loss. |
| Keep an intake and output record. | Detects dehydration early. |
| Monitor for warning signs: confusion, seizures, hypotension. | They may point to a serious condition that needs immediate attention. |
| Change clothing and bed linens damp with sweat. | Improves comfort and prevents sudden chilling. |
| Teach the family to take a temperature and avoid overbundling. | Lets them continue monitoring at home and seek care in time. |
NOC outcomes and NIC interventions
Outcomes (NOC) and interventions (NIC) that published sources link to this diagnosis. Pick the ones that fit your patient.
NOC outcomes
- 0800Thermoregulation
- 0601Fluid Balance
NIC interventions
- 3740Fever Treatment
- 3900Temperature Regulation
- 4120Fluid Management
Linkages drawn from care plans published by health services, universities and nursing journals. Labels may vary depending on the NIC and NOC edition your facility uses.
Case study: Febrile toddler with poor fluid intake
Patient. Valeria, 2 years old and 12 kg, is brought to the ED with one day of fever and diarrhea. Her mother has her wrapped in two blankets "to sweat the fever out."
Assessment
- Axillary temperature 39.4 °C (102.9 °F).
- HR 158 bpm and RR 36 breaths/min.
- Skin hot and flushed; oral mucosa dry.
- Diaper dry for 6 hours.
- About 200 mL of fluids taken in the last 12 hours.
- Irritable but consolable when held; capillary refill 2 seconds.
Nursing diagnosis
Hyperthermia related to dehydration and overbundling as evidenced by axillary temperature of 39.4 °C (102.9 °F), hot flushed skin, HR of 158 bpm and dry oral mucosa.
Goal
Valeria's axillary temperature drops below 38 °C (100.4 °F) within 2 hours of starting interventions.
Interventions
- Remove the blankets and dress her in light clothing.
- Give the prescribed antipyretic and reassess at 60 minutes.
- Offer oral rehydration solution in small, frequent amounts as ordered.
- Check temperature every hour and weigh diapers.
- Explain to her mother why bundling raises the temperature.
Evaluation
At 2 hours her temperature is 37.8 °C (100.0 °F) and HR 124 bpm; she has taken 250 mL of oral rehydration solution and wet one diaper. The outcome is met; the diagnosis stays under monitoring until she has been fever-free for 24 hours.
How it differs from similar diagnoses
- Risk for hyperthermia (00471): Risk for hyperthermia: temperature is still normal, but factors are present that could raise it. New in 2024-2026.
- Ineffective thermoregulation (00008): Ineffective thermoregulation: temperature swings between high and low rather than staying elevated.
- Decreased body temperature (00472): Decreased body temperature: the opposite problem. Formerly called Hypothermia.
Common mistakes
- Writing "related to infection": infection is the condition; the related factor is, for example, dehydration.
- Documenting "fever" without the reading and the measurement route.
- Bundling up a patient who has chills during the fever spike.
- Keeping the diagnosis open when the temperature has been normal for more than 24 hours.
Used in these conditions
Other diagnoses in the Thermoregulation class
Domain 11, Safety / protection. See every diagnosis in this domain.
Frequently asked questions
What is the NANDA code for hyperthermia?
00007, in Domain 11 (Safety/protection), Class 6 (Thermoregulation). It is still current in the 2024-2026 edition.
What changed in NANDA 2024-2026?
Risk for hyperthermia (00471) was added, and the former Hypothermia diagnosis was renamed Decreased body temperature (00472).
Is fever the same as hyperthermia in a care plan?
In practice the terms are used similarly, but the NANDA-I label is Hyperthermia.
At what temperature do I use hyperthermia?
Generally from 38 °C (100.4 °F) axillary, or the threshold set by your facility's protocol for the measurement site. Always document the route.
Should I use alcohol sponge baths for fever?
No. Use lukewarm compresses if indicated. Alcohol and ice water cause shivering, and alcohol can be absorbed through the skin, especially in children.
Study material: the explanation, characteristics, factors, examples and case study on this page were written by our editorial team. The official text for Hyperthermia (00007) is in NANDA International Nursing Diagnoses: Definitions and Classification 2024-2026. This page does not replace clinical judgment or your facility's protocols.
Classification sources: NANDA-I 2024-2026, Thieme supplement · Elsevier summary of changes · Spanish edition table of contents · NOC/NIC: source 1. Reviewed November 2, 2026.