What should a CNA do if a resident has a fever after consuming a hot beverage?

When a resident has consumed a hot beverage, their oral temperature may be elevated due to the heat from the drink rather than an actual fever. It is important to wait a brief period of time, typically about 15 to 30 minutes, before retaking the temperature to ensure an accurate measurement. This allows the body temperature to stabilize and reflects a more accurate reading of the individual's true state.

Retaking the temperature immediately may yield a falsely elevated reading due to residual heat. Notifying the physician immediately or allowing the resident to rest, while important in other contexts, does not address the immediate need to accurately assess the resident's condition by measuring the temperature after an appropriate elapsed time. Therefore, waiting and then retaking the temperature is the most appropriate action in this situation.