Exam Cram NCLEX RN Practice Questions Related

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Which of these actions illustrates the correct technique for a nurse when assessing oral temperature with a glass thermometer?

  • A. Wait 30 minutes if the patient has ingested hot or iced liquids.
  • B. Leave the thermometer in place for 3 to 4 minutes if the patient is afebrile.
  • C. Shake the glass thermometer down to 35.5°C before taking the patient's temperature.
  • D. Place the thermometer at the base of the tongue and ask the patient to close his or her lips.
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct technique for assessing oral temperature with a glass thermometer involves leaving the thermometer in place for 3 to 4 minutes if the patient is afebrile and up to 8 minutes if the patient is febrile. Waiting 30 minutes if the patient has ingested hot or iced liquids is incorrect; instead, the nurse should wait 15 minutes in such cases. Shaking the glass thermometer down to 35.5°C, not 37.5°C, is the correct procedure before taking the patient's temperature. Placing the thermometer at the base of the tongue, not the front, and asking the patient to close their lips is the proper way to position the thermometer. Therefore, the correct answer is to leave the thermometer in place for 3 to 4 minutes if the patient is afebrile and up to 8 minutes if the patient is febrile.