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Lesson 2: Temperature
Section III: Taking Temperatures
2-16
2-16. WILL I GET THE SAME TEMPERATURE READINGS FOR ORAL, AXILLARY,
AND RECTAL TEMPERATURES?
As indicated in paragraph 2-3i, the location where the temperature is taken causes a slight difference in a patient's temperature reading. Suppose you were to measure a patient's oral, axillary, and rectal temperature at the same time. The axillary temperature reading would be about 1º F (0º.6 C) lower than the oral temperature reading while the rectal temperature reading would be about 1 ºF (0.6º C) higher than the oral temperature reading (figure 2-6).
NOTE: This example is given in order to illustrate a point. You do not take a patient's
temperature three different ways at the same time.
Figure 2-6. Normal average rectal, oral, and axillary temperature readings (approximate).
