Vital Signs - Temperature: Nursing skills

Now, as a nurse you will need to measure your client’s temperature. There are several areas of the body where you can do that, including the oral cavity; the rectum; the axilla, or armpit; the tympanic membrane, or eardrum; and the temporal artery on the forehead. Before we discuss how to measure your client’s temperature, we need to cover some definitions. Our body is always generating heat through metabolism, and a part of the brain, called the hypothalamus, tries to keep the core body temperature constant like a thermostat. When we are febrile, meaning we've got a fever, the thermostat is raised higher, and this can be due to an infection, inflammation, or cancer. However, body temperature could also be high in hyperthermia, where the thermostat is set at the right temperature, but the body simply can’t get rid of the heat. This can be due to an extremely hot environment, excessive exercise, and reduced sweat production. In contrast, hypothermia is when body temperature gets too low, and it might be due to exposure to cold for a prolonged period of time, either accidentally or in preparation for a medical procedure.

Starting with an oral temperature: This is an easy and relatively comfortable method. A normal oral temperature is between 97.6 to 99.6 degrees Fahrenheit, or 36.5 to 37.5 degrees Celsius, for adults, and 97 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit, or 36 to 37 degrees Celsius, for children. But because the mouth is a large space open to the outside environment, this is not a very accurate way to obtain a temperature because the temperature can change significantly. So, don’t take an oral temperature if the client has been eating, drinking, smoking, or chewing gum in the past 15 minutes. Oxygen therapy with a face mask can also interfere with the results. In addition, it's important to hold the thermometer tightly in their mouth, so you should avoid this method for clients who are unable to do this, like those who have undergone a jaw or mouth injury or surgery, or have trouble breathing through their nose. It should also be avoided for clients who might bite the thermometer, like those who are likely to have a seizure and children under five. To start, gather the supplies you’ll need, including an electronic thermometer, a blue oral probe, and a probe sheath. So, first, ask the client if they have eaten, drank, smoked, or chewed gum in the past 15 minutes. If they have, wait 15 to 30 minutes before proceeding. Inform the client about the procedure before beginning and answer any client questions related to the procedure. Next, remember to practice hand hygiene and slide a probe sheath over the temperature probe. Then, switch it on and wait until you see a ready sign on the screen.