A nurse is assessing a client who presents to the labor and delivery unit reporting the onset of contractions. Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as a manifestation of false labor?

• Fever: Fever is a nonspecific but common symptom found in all three conditions—epiglottitis, RSV, and streptococcal pharyngitis. However, it is more severe and abrupt in epiglottitis and low to moderate in RSV and strep throat. In this case, the toddler has had a persistent fever over 38°C, consistent with both RSV and strep.
• Exudate on pharynx: Pharyngeal exudate is a hallmark sign of acute streptococcal pharyngitis, resulting from the inflammatory response to GABHS. It is not typical in RSV or epiglottitis, where erythema and swelling may occur but without purulent exudate.
• Wheezing upon auscultation: Wheezing is a classic sign of RSV, a lower respiratory viral infection leading to bronchiolitis and airway obstruction. It is not a feature of epiglottitis or strep throat, which involve the upper airway and oropharynx, respectively.
• Drooling: Drooling is strongly associated with epiglottitis, due to inflammation and swelling of the epiglottis which makes it painful and difficult to swallow. It is not typical in RSV or strep pharyngitis unless there is severe oral involvement or dehydration.
• Hypoxia: Hypoxia may occur in both epiglottitis and RSV due to airway obstruction or inflammation compromising oxygenation. In epiglottitis, it results from upper airway narrowing; in RSV, from lower airway inflammation and mucus plugging. It is not common in uncomplicated streptococcal pharyngitis.
• Tachypnea: Tachypnea is a sign of respiratory distress and is often present in both epiglottitis and RSV, as the body attempts to compensate for impaired gas exchange. It is not a primary feature of strep pharyngitis unless accompanied by systemic infection or high fever.

A. "Take your temperature every night before going to bed." Basal body temperature (BBT) must be measured after a full night’s sleep, not at bedtime, to accurately detect ovulatory shifts in temperature.
B. "Take your temperature 1 hour after getting out of bed." Delaying the measurement even by an hour can alter the results, as physical activity and environmental exposure can cause inaccurate readings.
C. "Take your temperature immediately after waking and before getting out of bed." This is the correct instruction. BBT should be taken at the same time each morning, right after waking, before any activity, to detect the slight rise in temperature (0.3–0.6°C or 0.5–1.0°F) that typically follows ovulation.
D. "Take your temperature within 30 minutes after your first morning void." Waiting until after voiding can also affect the reading. The temperature should be taken prior to any physical movement, including going to the bathroom, for best accuracy.