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Lesson 2: Temperature
Section III: Taking Temperatures
2-22
2-22. HOW DO I TAKE A RECTAL TEMPERATURE WITH AN ELECTRIC THERMOMETER?
If you are not familiar with the electric thermometer you will be using, read the instructions provided in the operator's manual or in your SOP before using the thermometer to take a patient's temperature. The general procedures for taking a patient's temperature with an electric thermometer are given below.
a. Wash Hands. Perform a patient care hand wash before beginning the procedure.
b. Gather Materials. You will need the following items:
(1) Electric thermometer with rectal (red) temperature probe.
(2) Probe covers (usually found with electric thermometer).
(3) Lubricant (usually a jelly or mineral oil), and if needed, an instrument (such as a tongue depressor) to transfer the lubricant from the container to the gauze pad.
(4) Gauze pad.
(5) Watch or clock (with second-hand, if possible).
(6) Pen or pencil.
(7) Something on which to write (form, note pad, and so forth).
(8) Electrical outlet, unless the thermometer is battery-powered.
c. Verify That The Rectal Route Should Be Used. Any situation that will prevent you from taking the patient's rectal temperature with a glass thermometer will also prevent you from taking his rectal temperature with an electric thermometer.
d. Verify Patient's Identity. Make sure that you are taking the temperature of the proper patient.
e. Prepare Thermometer. Make sure that the electric thermometer is working and ready to use.
f. Tell the Patient About Procedure. Tell the patient that you are going to take his temperature rectally. Explain to the patient how he is to position himself (paragraph g). Inform him before inserting or removing the probe.
g. Position Patient. Have the patient to lie on his side with his top knee flexed in the Sims's position. Arrange the patient's clothing and bed sheet so that the rectal area is clearly exposed, but the patient is not unnecessarily exposed.
h. Prepare Lubricant. Place some of the lubricant onto a gauze pad. If the lubricant must be transferred from a jar or similar container, use a tongue depressor or similar instrument to put the lubricant onto the pad.
i. Cover Probe. Insert the rectal probe into a probe cover.
j. Lubricate Probe Cover. Put the tip of the probe into the lubricant. Then use the gauze pad to spread lubricant over the lower part of the probe cover. Dispose of the gauze pad after the probe cover is lubricated.
k. Insert Probe. Insert the probe into the patient's rectum using the following steps:
(1) Tell the patient that you are going to insert the thermometer probe.
(2) Using your free hand, lift the patient's upper buttock slightly, so that the anus is clearly exposed.
(3) Have the patient take a deep breath and then release the breath.
(4) Insert the lubricated tip of the probe through the anus opening.
(5) Continue to gently insert the probe until one to two inches of the probe has been inserted.
(6) If the thermometer will take several seconds to register the patient's temperature, release your hold on the patient's buttock. If the thermometer will register the temperature in only a few seconds, you may wish to keep the buttock raised rather than raising it again to remove the probe. In either case, do not let go of the temperature probe.
l. Wait for Signal. Hold the temperature probe in place until the thermometer signals (red light, etc.) that the patient's temperature has been determined.
m. Remove Probe. If you have released the patient's upper buttock, raise the buttock again. Then carefully remove the probe from the patient's rectum. After the probe has been removed, release the patient's buttock and cover the patient again (reposition gown, pajamas, bed sheet, and so forth).
n. Read and Record Temperature. Read the patient's temperature from the display and record the reading. If the electric thermometer does not display the temperature rounded to the nearest 0.2º F or 0.1º C, round off the patient's temperature to this degree of accuracy. Write " ® " above reading to indicate that the temperature is a rectal temperature.
o. Discard Probe Cover. Eject the probe cover into a waste container.
p. Return Probe to Resting Place. Return the probe to its resting place. If additional actions are required to reset the temperature display to be used again, perform those actions.
q. Wash Hands. Perform another patient care hand wash.
