Taking an Oral Temperature (Glass)

Material needed:

• Glass oral thermometer
• Tissue or cotton ball
• Watch with second hand
• Pencil
• Paper

Procedure:

1. Explain what you are going to do and remind client to not eat, drink or smoke for at least 15 minutes before this procedure
2. Have client lay down or rest in a chair
3. Wash your hands
4. Obtain materials listed above
5. Clean thermometer
6. Shake down mercury if necessary
7. Place thermometer under client's tongue, as far back as possible, into either heat pocket
8. Tell client to keep mouth closed and not to talk
9. Leave thermometer in place for three minutes.
10. Remove thermometer
11. Wipe thermometer with a 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
12. Read the thermometer and then place it on the tissue
13. Write the temperature on the paper
14. Clean and dry thermometer
15. Shake down thermometer
16. Store thermometer in holder in proper location
17. Wash your hands
18. Record temperature on client's record and indicate it was taken orally "O"
19. Report any abnormal temperature to the nurse or family member