Taking an Oral Temperature (Electronic)

Material needed:

• Electronic thermometer
• Tissue or cotton ball
• Pencil
• Paper

Procedure:

1. Explain what your are going to do and remind the client to not drink, eat or smoke 15 minutes before doing this procedure
2. Have client to lay down or rest in a chair
3. Wash your hands
4. Obtain material listed above
5. Clean thermometer
6. Turn on thermometer
7. Wait until it reads "0" or shows "---" on the display window
8. Place thermometer under the client's tongue, as far back as possible, into the heat pockets
9. Tell the client to keep mouth closed and not to talk
10. Leave thermometer in place until you hear it beep
11. Remove the thermometer
12. Wipe thermometer with tissue from stem end to bulb end. Discard tissue. Do not touch any part of the thermometer that has been in the client's mouth
13. Read the thermometer and then place it on the tissue
14. Write the temperature on the paper
15. Clean and dry thermometer
16. Turn off thermometer
17. Store thermometer in holder in proper location
18. Wash your hands
19. Record temperature on client's record. Indicate "O" for oral temperature
20. Report any abnormal temperate to the nurse of family member