Ace the Colorado CNA Challenge 2025 – Unleash Your Caregiving Superpowers!

The condition under which a nursing assistant should not take an oral temperature is when the person is confused or disoriented. This is because individuals who are confused may not fully understand the instructions or may have difficulty keeping their mouth closed around the thermometer, leading to inaccurate readings or discomfort. Additionally, the risk of aspiration or injury increases when someone is disoriented, making it unsafe to take an oral temperature.

Taking an oral temperature while a person is asleep may not be ideal, but it doesn’t pose the same level of risk as with someone who is disoriented. However, it’s essential to ensure that the temperature-taking process does not disturb their rest unnecessarily. Similarly, a cough might influence the comfort level but does not inherently restrict the ability to measure temperature effectively. Underweight status does not typically affect the appropriateness of taking an oral temperature either.