Unit 2: Temperature

Flashcards for a lesson on patient temperature.

Temperature

One of the four vital signs that measures the balance between the heat the body loses and the heat the body produces

Heat loss

Done through perspiration, respiration, excretion, conduction, and convection

Heat production

Done through metabolism and muscle and gland activity

Temperature methods

• Oral (mouth)

• Rectal

• Tympanic (ear)

• Axillary (armpit) or groin

• Temporal (forehead)

Normal oral temperature range

97.6 to 99.6 degrees farenheit (36.5 to 37.5 degrees centigrade)

Normal rectal or tympanic temperature range

98.6 to 100.3 degrees farenheit (37 to 37.9 degrees centigrade)

Normal axillary or groin temperature range

98.6 to 100.3 degrees farenheit (36.4 to 37.5 degrees centigrade)

High temperature factors

• Illness

• Infection

• Exercise

• Excitement

• Environment

Low temperature factors

• Starvation

• Fasting

• Sleep

• Decreased muscle activity

• Disease

• Environment

Hypothermia

A very low body temperature as a result of exposure in the environment

Fever

A high temperature caused by infection or injury, sometimes as an infection response

Hyperthermia

High temperature caused by environmental exposure; can cause brain damage and serious infections

Thermometer types

• Glass (mercury)

• Electronic

• Tympanic (ear)

• Temporal (forehead)

Temporal thermometer locations

Across the forehead’s temporal artery or the neck behind the earlobe

Glass thermometer locations

• Oral (mouth)

• Rectal

• Axillary (armpit)

Glass thermometer purpose

To double-check electronic temperatures during extremes

Glass thermometer readings

Read by reading the point where the column of alcohol or mercury stops

Electronic thermometer locations

• Oral (mouth)

• Rectal

• Axillary (armpit)

• Groin

Tympanic thermometer location

Within the ear to obtain the aural temperature

Tympanic thermometer

An electronic, fast thermometer type to record aural temperatures that often have disposable covers for lowered sterilization needs