How to Take a Body Temperature

Learn about 6 different ways to take a temperature.

What is a normal body temperature? It varies from person to person:

Adults: 97’F to 99 ‘F (average 98.6’)
Children: 97.4’F to 100’F

Anything over 100.4 ‘F is considered a fever

There are many different routes used to measure a temperature. This includes the: oral, tympanic (ear), skin, axilla (armpit), rectum, or via the temporal artery on the forehead.

Which route is the most accurate?

Rectal: Why? because this location is the least affected by outside sources that can alter the reading, but it’s not very comfortable.

Which route is the least accurate and should be used as last resort?

Axilla (armpit) or skin

It’s important to remember:

Armpit: a temperature this route will measure a degree lower than the mouth
Rectal: a temperature this route will measure a degree higher than the mouth

The most common device used in the hospital setting to take a temperature is via a digital thermometer. However, sometimes people use glass thermometers that are mercury-free (these type of thermometers are no longer used in the hospital because they can break).

6 Ways to Take a Body Temperature

How to take an Oral Temperature

Make sure the person hasn’t ate or drank anything and if they have wait about 15 minutes to take the temperature.

Digital:

Perform hand hygiene and don gloves (due to the chance of encountering oral secretions)
Place probe cover over the thermometer.
Turn on thermometer.
Place the tip of the thermometer UNDER the tongue and have the person close their mouth.
Remove thermometer once it beeps.
Read the temperature measurement.
Remove probe cover and clean the thermometer per facilities protocol.
Doff gloves and perform hand hygiene.
Chart reading (include the route taken).

Glass:

Perform hand hygiene and don gloves (due to the chance of encountering oral secretions)
Place probe cover over the thermometer.
Flick the thermometer with your wrist until the liquid is BELOW 98.6’F.
Place the tip of the thermometer UNDER the tongue and have the person close their mouth.
Remove thermometer after 3 minutes.
Read the temperature measurement.
Remove probe cover and clean the thermometer per facilities protocol.
Doff gloves and perform hand hygiene.
Chart reading (include the route taken).

How to take a Tympanic Temperature

Perform hand hygiene.
Place a probe filter on the device.
Turn on the device.
Pull the pinna of the ear up and back.
1. But for children less than 12 months pull the pinna of the ear down and back (some sources say children 3 or under…go by what your instructor says….this straightens the ear canal)
Insert the device inside the ear and ask the patient if it feels comfortable (you want it positioned correctly…it should not hurt).
Press the button on device to take the temperature.
Remove device and read temperature measurement.
Dispose of probe filer and clean the thermometer per facilities protocol.
Perform hand hygiene.
Chart reading (include the route taken).

How to take an Axilla (armpit) Temperature

Perform hand hygiene
Place a probe cover on the thermometer.
Turn on the thermometer.
Place the thermometer directly on the skin (not on clothing) of the armpit and close the armpit by bending down the patient’s arm.
Remove the thermometer when the device beeps.
Read temperature measurement.
Dispose of thermometer probe and clean the thermometer per facilities protocol.
Perform hand hygiene.
Chart reading (include the route taken).

How to take a Temporal Temperature

Perform hand hygiene.
Remove probe cover (some models have this) and place a probe cover on the device, if it requires one. Some devices don’t have probe filters, but require a thorough cleaning after use.
Turn on the thermometer.
Start on the center of the forehead and sweep the thermometer across the forehead to the hairline.
If the patient is very sweaty, start on the center of the forehead and sweep the thermometer across the forehead to the hairline and THEN behind the base of the ear.
Read temperature measurement.
Clean thermometer per facilities protocol.
Perform hand hygiene.
Chart reading (include the route taken).

How to take Rectal Temperature

Perform hand hygiene and don gloves.
Place probe cover on thermometer and lubricate the tip of the thermometer.
Turn on the thermometer.
Position patient on their back with knees bent up.
Insert thermometer into the rectum about 1 inch.
Remove thermometer when device beeps.
Read temperature measurement.
Clean patient (if needed), dispose of thermometer probe, and clean thermometer per facilities protocol.
Doff gloves and perform hand hygiene.
Chart reading (include the route taken).