7.8: Skills Checklist- Oral, Tympanic, Axillary, Rectal and Temporal Temperatures
- Page ID
- 70380
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)- Gather Supplies: Thermometer; probe covers for oral, rectal, axillary, or tympanic thermometer. See Figure 7.16[1] at the end of this checklist for an image of various types of thermometers.
- Routine Pre-Procedure Steps:
- Knock on the client’s door.
- Perform hand hygiene.
- Introduce yourself and identify the resident.
- Maintain respectful, courteous, and professional communication at all times.
- Provide for privacy.
- Explain the procedure to the client.
- Procedure Steps:
- Oral temperature
- Remove the probe from the device.
- Slide a probe cover (from the attached box) onto the oral thermometer without touching the probe cover with your hands.
- Place the thermometer under the client’s tongue at either side of the base of the tongue.
- Instruct the person to keep their mouth closed.
- Leave the thermometer in place for as long as is indicated by the device manufacturer, usually indicated by a beep.
- Read the digital display of the results.
- Discard the probe cover in the garbage without touching the cover.
- Place the probe back into the device.
- Tympanic temperature
- Remove the tympanic thermometer from its holder.
- Place a probe cover on the thermometer tip without touching the probe cover with your hands.
- Ask the client to keep their head still.
- For an adult or older child, gently pull the outer ear up and back to visualize the ear canal.
- For an infant or child under age 3, gently pull the outer ear down.
- Insert the probe just inside the ear canal.
- Do not force the thermometer into the ear.
- Hold the device in place until it beeps (within a few seconds after the temperature is measured).
- Read the results displayed.
- Discard the probe cover in the garbage without touching the cover.
- Place the device back into the holder.
- Axillary temperature
- Remove the probe from the device.
- Place a probe cover (from the attached box) on the thermometer without touching the cover with your hands.
- Ask the client to raise their arm or gently raise their arm for them.
- With the probe facing towards the back of the resident, place the thermometer probe in the armpit on bare skin as high up into the axilla as possible.
- Ask the patient to lower their arm or gently lower it for them.
- Leave the device in place until it beeps, usually about 10–20 seconds.
- Read the displayed results.
- Discard the probe cover in the garbage without touching the cover.
- Place the probe back into the device.
- Rectal temperature (Use the red probe)
- Put on gloves.
- Position the patient:
- For infants, place them in a supine position and raise their legs upwards toward their chest.
- For older children and adults, assist them into a side lying position and explain the procedure.
- Remove the probe from the device.
- Place a probe cover (from the attached box) on the thermometer.
- Lubricate the cover with a water-based lubricant.
- Gently insert the probe 2–3 cm or less inside the anus, depending on the patient’s size.
- Remove the probe when the device beeps.
- Read the result.
- Discard the probe cover in the trash can without touching it.
- Cleanse the device as indicated by agency policy.
- Remove gloves, turning them inside out and discard.
- Perform hand hygiene.
- Temporal temperature
- Remove eyeglasses from the client if they are worn.
- Place the sensor on their forehead, ensuring good skin contact.
- Slowly slide the thermometer across the forehead to the ear, maintaining contact with the skin at all times.
- Stop when the sensor reaches the hairline and read the displayed result.
- Post-Procedure Steps:
- Check for resident comfort and ask if anything else is needed.
- Ensure the bed is low and locked. Check the brakes.
- Place the call light or signaling device within reach of the resident.
- Open the door and privacy curtain.
- Perform hand hygiene.
- Document temperature and report abnormal findings to the nurse.
View a YouTube video[2] of an instructor demonstration of obtaining a temperature:
- "Thermometers" by Landon Cerny is licensed under CC BY 4.0 ↵
- Chippewa Valley Technical College. (2022, December 3). Obtaining a Temperature. [Video]. YouTube. Video licensed under CC BY 4.0. https://youtu.be/rZftX0z6aKo ↵
- Chippewa Valley Technical College. (2023, January 5). Rectal Temperature. [Video]. YouTube. Video licensed under CC BY 4.0. https://youtu.be/LKg2OS2D3rQ ↵