The nurse is caring for an older-adult patient and notes that the temperature is 96.8° F (36° C). How will the nurse interpret this finding?
a. The patient has hyperthermia.
b. The patient has a normal temperature.
c. The patient is suffering from hypothermia.
d. The patient is demonstrating increased metabolism.
ANS: B
The average body temperature of older adults is approximately 35? to 36.1° C (95° to 97° F). This is not hypothermia or hyperthermia. Older adults have poor vasomotor control, reduced amounts of subcutaneous tissue, reduced sweat gland activity, and reduced metabolism. The end result is lowered body temperature.
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