What skill is the nursing assistant utilizing by regularly taking the temperature of a patient with a fever?

Regularly taking the temperature of a patient with a fever primarily demonstrates surveillance skills. This involves monitoring the patient's vital signs and identifying any changes over time. Surveillance skills are critical for nursing assistants as they provide essential data that can indicate the patient's health status, help assess the effectiveness of treatments, and inform the healthcare team about any necessary interventions.

Through diligent monitoring, the nursing assistant ensures that any fluctuations in temperature are noted and communicated, allowing for timely responses to the patient's needs. Such consistent observation is crucial in managing conditions like fever, where changes can signal improvement or deterioration in the patient’s health.

While communicative, therapeutic, and technical skills play important roles in nursing care, the act of taking and consistently monitoring vital signs aligns more closely with the responsibilities associated with surveillance skills.