The night nurse is reviewing the vital signs of a client in an extended care facility. The nurse notes the client's oral temperature at 6 a.m. was 98.0 °F, but that evening, the client's oral temperature was 99.2 °F. What is this variation indicative of?

Question

1. The client's temperature has been improperly assessed either in the morning or evening; the nurse can't be sure which.
2. The client is developing an infection.
3. The client is experiencing stress.
4. The client's temperature is demonstrating diurnal variations.

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 4

There is nothing to suggest that this client is under a great deal of stress, which might elevate body temperature. The difference in body temperature is evidence of diurnal variation. Core body temperature is lowest during the early morning and becomes higher during the course of the day. There is no evidence to suggest the temperatures were incorrectly assessed and the same routes were used for both assessments. There is no evidence to suggest that the client is developing an infection other than the higher evening body temperature.