The nurse applies a cooling blanket to a patient with a dangerously high fever.Which is the most accurate method to monitor the patient's temperature?

A) Taping a digital thermometer probe to the skin of the patient's axilla to download the temperature readings directly to the patient's chart
B) Checking the patient's oral temperature every 15 minutes while the cooling blanket is in place until the patient is afebrile
C) Applying a temperature-sensitive patch to the patient's forehead to monitor the temperature of the patient's skin surface
D) Inserting a small rectal thermometer probe for continuous core temperature measurement

Question

Kathleen Formel · Accepted Answer

Final Answer : D, Explanation :  The rectal temperature is the gold standard for measurement of core body temperature,which is the key assessment for a patient with a dangerously high fever.Small rectal thermometer probes often come with cooling blankets for this reason.Measurement of skin surface temperatures is not accurate.Continuous measurement of temperature is optimal for patients when cooling blankets are used to treat dangerously high fevers.

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