If the patient’s body temperature is abnormally high or if there has been a significant change from the patient’s normal baseline temperature, the health care professional should:
- schedule another reading to see if there is a change.
- immediately notify his or her superior.
- use another method to take body temperature to confirm the first reading.
- note the change in the patient’s chart and check on the patient later that day.
The correct answer is:
use another method to take body temperature to confirm the first reading.
Explanation:
If a patient's body temperature is abnormally high or there is a significant change from their normal baseline, the healthcare professional should first confirm the accuracy of the reading. This involves taking the temperature again using another method to rule out any errors in measurement or device malfunction. Once the abnormal reading is confirmed, appropriate actions, such as notifying a superior or initiating interventions, can follow.
Why not the other options?
- Schedule another reading to see if there is a change: Delaying confirmation could risk patient safety if the abnormal temperature indicates an urgent condition.
- Immediately notify his or her superior: While notifying a superior is important, confirming the abnormal reading comes first to avoid reporting a potential error.
- Note the change in the patient’s chart and check on the patient later that day: This delays necessary actions and may compromise patient care.
