Measuring and Recording Temperature

Temperature Concepts and Definitions

  • Temperature: defined as the balance between heat loss and heat produced.

Heat Loss Mechanisms

  • Through the body:

    • Perspiration

    • Respiration

    • Excretion (feces)

  • These are pathways by which the body loses heat.

Heat Production Mechanisms

  • Heat is produced in the body by:

    • Metabolism of food

    • Muscle activity

    • Gland activity

    • Urine (listed in transcript; presented as a heat production-related process in the notes)

Homeostasis

  • Homeostasis: natural balance of the body and a constant state of Blanc [likely intended to be balance].

  • The rates of chemical reactions in the body are regulated by body temperature.

  • Therefore, if body temperature is too high or too low, the body's fluid balance is affected.

Normal Body Temperature Range

  • Normal range for body temperature: 97−100∘F97-100^{\circ}\mathrm{F}

Usual Daily Variations in Healthy Adults

  • In healthy adults, the usual daily variations in body temperature: 1-3 degrees Variation

Reasons for Variations in Body Temperature

Individual Differences: Accelerated Body Processes(higher temp)

Time of Day: Body Temp lower in the morning higher in the evening, after muscular Activity and daily food intake have taken place.

Body Sites: Parts of the body where Temperatures are taken lead to variations temperature variations by body sities.

Regulation of Body Temperature

  • Regulation is managed by special cells within the hypothalamus, which is part of the brain.

  • Spelling note: transcript uses "hypothalnus"; correct term is "hypothalamus".

Body Sites for Temperature Measurement

  • Several body sites are used for measuring temperature; notes below cover Oral and Rectal measurements with details.

9a. Oral Temperature

  • Average temperature: 98.6∘F98.6^{\circ}\mathrm{F}.

  • Taken in the mouth.

  • Usually the most common, convenient, and comfortable method.

  • Factors affecting oral temperature:

    • Eating, drinking hot or cold liquids, and/or smoking can alter the temperature in the mouth.

    • If any of these have occurred, wait at least 15 minutes15\text{ minutes} before taking an oral temperature.

  • Instrument care:

    • An oral thermometer is cleaned from stem to bulb (clean to dirty).

  • Procedure:

    • The bulb of the thermometer must be placed under the patient’s tongue toward the side of the mouth for 3−5 minutes3-5\text{ minutes} or until the electronic thermometer beeps.

9b. Rectal Temperature

  • Average temperature: 99.6∘F99.6^{\circ}\mathrm{F}.

  • Taken in the rectum.

  • This is an internal measurement and is the most accurate of all methods.

  • Frequently taken on infants and small children and patients with hypothermia.

  • Instrument tip:

    • Red probe tip is always used for this method.

  • Thermometer is always covered with a disposable sheath or probe cover.

  • A small amount of lubricant is used to cover the tip of the thermometer.

  • Thermometer is inserted into the rectum 1 to ½ inch. NEVER let go of the thermometer!

  • Hold it in place for 3-5 minutes for a clinical thermometer, or until the electronic thermometer beeps.

  • Remove the disposable sheath or probe cover before reading the temperature.

  • You must place an (R) net to the recording to indicate a rectal temperature was taken.


12 Axillary or Groin Temperature

  • Average Temperature 97.6 Degrees Fahrenheit

  • Taken in the armpit, under the upper arm.

  • A groin temperature is taken between the two-folds of skin formed by the inner part of the thigh and the lower abdomen.

  • Both axillary and groin are external temperatures, and less accurate.

  • The thermometer is left in place for 10 minutes or until the electronic thermometer beeps.

  • A (Ax) must be placed next to the recording to indicate axillary temperature.


13 Aural Temperature

  • Average Temperature similar to rectal (99.6 Degrees Fahrenheit)

  • Taken with a special tympanic thermometer that is placed in the ear or auditory canal.

  • The thermometer detects and measures the thermal, infrared energy radiating from the blood vessels in tympanic membrane, or eardrum.

  • This type measures body core temperature, or internal body temperature.

  • Most tympanic thermometers record temperature in less than 2 seconds.

  • DISADVANTAGE to using this type of thermometer:

    • Inaccurate results will be obtained if the thermometer is not inserted into the ear correctly or is an ear infection or wax build-up is present

    • Correct placement of thermometer for adults and any child over 1 year of age pull the pinna (external lobe) up and back

    • For infants under 1 year of age pull the ear pinna straight back.]

    • 7. Usually reads the temperature in 1-2 seconds /

    • 8. Make sure to put an (A), (T), or (Tym) next to the recording so they know what method was used to obtain this temperature.

    • Pulling the pinna correctly straightens the auditory canal so the probe tip will point directly at the tympanic membrane.

  • 14  Temporal temperature.

  • 1. Taken with a special temporal scanning thermometer that is passed in a straight line across the forehead, midway between the eyebrows and upper hairline.

  • 2. The thermometer measures the temperature in the temporal artery

  • 3 . Normal temperature is similar to a rectal temperature because it measures the temperature inside the body or bloodstream-

  • 4. DO NOT USE this method if the forehead has a wig or covering on it, is laying on a pillow, or has profuse perspiration on it. These may cause an inaccurate reading.

  • 10.  List the type of patient you would NOT take an oral temperature on: Uncooperative,restless,chilled

  • 11  List the type of patient you would NOT take a rectal temperature on: diarrhea, fecal impaction,combative-behavior

12 List the causes of an increased body temperature:              Illness,Infection,exercise,excitement,high temperature in the environment

13  List the causes of a decreased body temperature: Starvation,fasting,sleep,decreased muscle activity,exposure to cold temps

14  Define the following terms:

A. Hypothermia: Condition in which body temperature is below normal 95F(range of (78-95F)

B. Fever: Elevated Body Temperature above 101F measured rectally

C.Pyrexia: Another term for fever

D. Febrile: A fever is present/showing symptoms of fever

E. Afebrile: No fever is present/normal range

F.  Hyperthermia: Condition when body temperature exceeds (104F)

15. Types of Thermometers: Explain the important concepts for each

type of thermometer

therm/o = heat

-meter = instrument used to measure

Clinical thermometer = not used often

*Consists of a slender glass tube containing mercury or a

heat-reactive mercury-free liquid such as alcohol, which expands when

exposed to heat.

different types such as the glass oral thermometer,

security oral thermometer and rectal thermometer.

*Glass oral thermometer = has a long, slender bulb or a blue tip

*Security oral thermometer = has a shorter, rounder bulb and is usually marked with a blue tip

*Rectal thermometer = has a short, stubby, rounded bulb and is marked with a red tip

*Disposable plastic sheaths may be used to cover the thermometer when it is used on a patient

  1. Electronic thermometer = used in most heath care facilities

*This type of thermometer uses a heat sensor to record temperature and

displays the temperature on a viewer in  60 seconds

*Can be used to take oral, rectal, axillary and/or groin temperatures 

*To prevent cross-contamination a disposable cover is placed over the

thermometer probe before the temperature is taken.

*By changing the disposable cover after each use, one unit can be used

on many patients

d. Small electronic thermometers:

*Excellent for home use because they eliminated the hazard of a mercury spill

*\\\It is small, and battery operated

*The unit will register the temperature in about 60 seconds on a digital display

screen.

*Disposable probe covers prevent contamination of the probe

e. Tympanic thermometers =

*Specialized electronic thermometers that use an infrared ray to

record the aural temperature in the ear.

*A disposable plastic cover is placed on the ear probe

*The probe is inserted into the auditory canal, then you push a scan

button and the temperature is record on the screen within 1-2 seconds.

f. Temporal scanning thermometers =

*These are special electronic thermometers that used an infrared

scanner to measure the temperature in the temporal artery of the

forehead.

*The thermometer is placed on the forehead and passed in a straight

line across the forehead, midway between the eyebrows and upper

hairline. In this area the artery is less than 2 millimeters below the

skin surface and easy to find.

*The temperature registers on the screen in 1-2 seconds.

method provides an accurate measurement of internal body temperature

g. Plastic or paper disposable thermometers =

*These thermometers contain special chemical dots or strips that

change color when exposed to specific temperatures.

*Some are placed on the forehead and others are used orally. Both

types are used one time then discarded

. Reading and Recording Temperature= 

*Electronic and tympanic thermometers are easy to read because they

have digital displays. *Reading a glass clinical thermometer takes practice.

**Hold the thermometer at eye level

**Rotate it slowly to find the solid column of mercury or mercury free

Liquid

**Read the thermometer at the point where the liquid ends

** Each line is read as 1 degree

**Each short line represents 0.2 (two-tenths) of a degree

*Temperature is always read to the next nearest two-tenths of a degree

If the temperature is taken using any other method than orally it

is important to label method. LABELED

*If it is taken rectally, place an (R) beside the recording

*If it is taken axillary use an (Ax) beside the recording

*If it is taken in the eardrum or tympanically (aurally) use an (A) or

(T) or (Tym) beside the recording

*If it is taken over the temporal artery or temporally use a (TA)

beside the Recording

 Cleaning Thermometers:

*Thermometers must be cleaned thoroughly after use.

*The procedure used varies with different agencies and types of thermometers 

*The glass thermometer is washed and rinsed. Cool water is used to prevent

breakage and to avoid destroying the column of liquid

The thermometer is then soaked in a disinfectant solution for a

minimum of 30 minutes before it is used again.

Fahrenheit Scale: 212F as the boiling point of water

It uses 32F as the freezing point of water

Fahrenheit to Celsius (F-32) x 5/9

Celsius scale: It uses 100C as the boiling point of water

It uses 0C as the freezing point of water

Celsius to Fahrenheit ( C x 9/5)+ 32