Taking the Temperature
Usually, in a patient who is not critical, the health care worker will take the patient's temperature first, which is a measure of how the body generates and eliminates heat. There are several different ways to measure temperature in a patient.
Oral: A thermometer is placed under the tongue in the patient's mouth. Temperature is measured with a glass thermometer that is visually read or with an electronic device that provides a digital reading. Patients should not eat or drink anything prior to measurement. If using a glass thermometer, make sure it is clean, and shake the thermometer to get the mercury level below 95 degrees. Hold the thermometer under the patient's tongue for 3-4 minutes for a glass thermometer or until the unit beeps for an electronic device. A digital thermometer is the preferred method for measuring an adult's temperature.
Anal: Using a glass or digital thermometer, health care professionals will lubricate the thermometer and place it in the patient's anus about 1 inch. Note that the anal reading will be 1 degree higher because it is higher than the core temperature. So if the reading is 99.0, the recorded temperature would be 98.0. This is the preferred method for taking a child's temperature.
Axillary: The health care professional places a digital or glass thermometer under the patient's arm. Note that the axillary reading will be 1 degree lower because it is not a core temperature reading. So if the reading is 97.0, the recorded temperature would be 98.0.
Tympanic: For this reading, a special thermometer is inserted into the patient's ear. These are electronic, so the unit will beep when the reading is completed.
Skin: A strip thermometer can measure the temperature of a patient's skin. Since this is the least accurate method of taking a patient's temperature, health care professionals will only use it when there is no other way to obtain a patient's temperature.
Temporal: A special digital thermometer is used for this reading. The device is placed on the forehead and swiped along one side of the face. It is then held until the unit beeps.