How to Assess Body Temperature
- 1). Wash your hands and choose which type of thermometer you wish to use. You can use an electronic thermometer to take the patient's temperature orally, or use an ear thermometer. Make sure you have a probe cover for the electronic thermometer or a lens filter for the ear thermometer.
- 2). Ask the patient to sit on a chair or table so you can easily access their ear or mouth. Observe the patient for signs and symptoms of elevated body temperature: skin color, temperature of skin to the touch, and condition of the skin. If you are using an electric thermometer, go to step 3, if you are using an ear thermometer, go to step 4.
- 3). Turn on the electric thermometer and place the probe cover over the end that goes into the patient's mouth. Have the patient open his mouth and place the probe underneath the tongue. Make sure the patient closes his lips around the thermometer, but does not bite down on it. Leave the probe under the tongue until the digital readout appears, or the alarm goes off.
- 4). Apply a clean lens filter and gently pull the patient's ear to straighten out the ear canal. Insert the thermometer into the ear opening, making sure you put it deep enough into the ear to seal the ear from any outside air that could affect the temperature reading. Hold the activation button for one second and wait for the digital readout to appear.
- 5). Record the body temperature value from the digital readout. Be sure to indicate on the chart if the temperature was recorded with an ear thermometer or an electric thermometer. Remove the probe cover or lens filter from the thermometer and throw it away.
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