What action should be taken if a patient's blood pressure is significantly high?

Notifying the healthcare provider after discovering a significantly high blood pressure is a critical and appropriate action. This step ensures that a qualified professional is aware of the situation and can evaluate the potential need for intervention or treatment. After notifying the provider, re-assessing the blood pressure after a short period can provide valuable information on whether the elevated reading is sustained or an isolated occurrence.

Taking the patient's temperature does not directly address the concern of high blood pressure and may lead to delays in appropriate management. Administering antihypertensive medication immediately could be inappropriate without a healthcare provider's order, as they need to assess the patient's overall condition and medical history before deciding on the treatment plan. Asking the patient to change position might be relevant in certain circumstances, but it does not directly address the need for a clinical assessment and intervention in the face of significantly high blood pressure readings. Thus, the most responsible course of action is to notify the healthcare provider and conduct a follow-up assessment.