Mrs. Alvarez just finished a cup of hot tea five minutes ago. Her care plan says to take an oral temperature now. What should the nursing assistant do?

• A.Wait 15 to 20 minutes before taking the oral temperature
• B.Take the oral temperature right away as ordered
• C.Add one degree to the result to correct for the tea
• D.Take the temperature rectally instead without asking

Why

Hot drinks warm the mouth and make an oral reading falsely high. Waiting 15 to 20 minutes lets the mouth return to normal, while correcting the number or changing sites on your own is not within the assistant's role.

Content outline: Basic Nursing Skills - Vital Signs: Temperature · From the Basic Nursing Skills practice bank (BN-001).

Practice this domain as a full test

More Measuring Temperature questions

• Which oral temperature for a resting adult falls within the normal range used in this course?
• A resident's axillary temperature is 97.6 degrees F. How does an axillary reading usually compare with an oral reading?
• A rectal temperature reads 99.6 degrees F. About what oral temperature would this correspond to?
• Mr. Chen is receiving oxygen by mask and breathes mostly through his mouth. The nurse asks for his temperature, but an oral reading would not be reliable. What is the best next step?
• A resident had mouth surgery yesterday and has stitches in her mouth. How should the nursing assistant take her temperature?