Question

The nurse is checking the client's temperature. The client feels warm to touch. However, the client's temperature is 98.8°F (37.1°C). Which statement could explain this?

1) The client may be experiencing a fever
2) The client may have a high metabolic rate
3) The client may be in a warm environment
4) The client may have just finished exercising

Answer 1

The client's temperature of 98.8°F (37.1°C) is slightly above average but does not typically indicate a fever, which is usually defined as a temperature of 99.5°F (37.5°C) or higher. The warmth could be due to a high metabolic rate, warmer environment, or recent exercise.

Step-by-step explanation:

The client's temperature is 98.8°F (37.1°C), which is a little higher than the average normal body temperature usually given as 98.6°F (37.0°C). However, this slight increase does not necessarily indicate a fever. Fevers typically begin at 99.5°F (37.5°C) or higher. Therefore, a client feeling warm to touch could be due to other factors, such as a warmer environment, having a high metabolic rate, or following exercise. All these situations can lead to a temporary increase in body temperature without it being considered a fever.

It's important to note that normal body temperature can vary from person to person, so what is slightly elevated for one individual may be normal for another. The increase in body temperature as a result of fever increases the basal metabolic rate (BMR) due to increased metabolic reactions. However, this case does not seem to be a result of a fever, as the client's temperature is not significantly above the common threshold for fever.