Home › CNA Practice Tests › Basic Nursing Skills Questions › Question 12
Mrs. Patel just ate a bowl of ice and drank ice water. Her oral temperature is due now. What is the correct action?
- A.Take it now and add one degree to the result
- B.Take a rectal temperature without asking the nurse
- C.Chart 98.6 degrees F because she feels fine
- D.Wait 15 to 20 minutes before taking it orally
Correct answer
D. Wait 15 to 20 minutes before taking it orally
Why
Cold food and drink lower the temperature inside the mouth and make the reading falsely low. Waiting before measuring avoids a misleading result, and values should never be estimated or corrected by guesswork.
Content outline: Basic Nursing Skills - Vital Signs: Temperature · From the Basic Nursing Skills practice bank (BN-012).