Quint Gardner, a 35-year-old established patient, is in the office for his annual checkup. He says he feels great, and he appears to be in good physical condition. According to office policy, you check his blood pressure using the aneroid sphygmomanometer and his temperature using an axillary thermometer. His vital signs are: BP: 118/88, R: 16, T: 102.4, P: 62. Given these vitals what would the medical assistant's next step be?

A) Recheck the blood pressure using an electronic sphygmomanometer
B) Ask him to sit quietly for 15 minutes, and then recheck his pulse
C) Recheck his temperature using a different type of thermometer
D) Ask him if he has had anything cold to drink in the last half hour
E) Notify the physician that this patient's temperature is dangerously elevated

Question

Skyla Clark · Accepted Answer

Final Answer : C, Explanation :  The patient's temperature of 102.4°F is significantly elevated, indicating a fever. Since the temperature was taken axillary (under the arm), which can be less accurate than other methods, rechecking the temperature with a different type of thermometer (e.g., oral, rectal, tympanic) would be a prudent next step to confirm the fever's presence and exact magnitude.

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