Objectives
After completing this lesson, you should be able to:
Identify normal and abnormal temperatures.
Identify factors that affect a person’s body temperature.
Determine the temperature shown on a glass thermometer.
Identify when oral, rectal, and axillary temperatures are taken.
Distinguish between oral and rectal thermometers.
Identify the proper procedures for taking a patient’s oral, rectal, and axillary temperatures with a glass thermometer.
Identify the proper procedures for taking a patient’s oral and rectal temperatures with an electric thermometer.
Identify and apply rules for recording patients’ temperatures.
Identify the proper procedure for decontaminating glass thermometers.
Overview
Section I. General Information
2.01 Why is it important to know the patient’s temperature?
2.02 What is a “normal” temperature?
2.03 Why is “normal temperature” given as a range?
2.04 How is a person’s body temperature regulated?
2.05 What causes abnormal temperatures?
Section II. Thermometers
2.06 How is a person’s temperature determined?
2.07 How does a glass thermometer work?
2.08 How do I read a glass thermometer?
2.09 Will a temperature go down before it is read?
2.10 How do I “shake down” a glass thermometer?
2.11 Why are glass thermometers shaken down?
2.12 How does an electric thermometer work?
2.13 How do I read an electric thermometer?
Section III. Taking Temperatures
2.14 What parts of the body are used in determining temperature?
2.15 What is the difference between an oral thermometer and a rectal thermometer?
2.16 Will I get the same temperature readings for oral, axillary, and rectal temperatures?
2.17 When should I take an oral temperature?
2.18 How do I take an oral temperature with a glass thermometer?
2.19 How do I take an oral temperature with an electric thermometer?
2.20 When should I take a rectal temperature?
2.21 How do I take a rectal temperature with a glass thermometer?
2.22 How do I take a rectal temperature with an electric thermometer?
2.23 When should I take an axillary temperature?
2.24 How to take an axillary temperature