1. Temperatures part 2

3.  Disposable  Single use and usually individually wrapped  Usually a colored dot shows the temperature  Single use prevents infection  Depending on the type may be used for oral or axillary  Some may be laid across the child’s forehead

4.  Should not be taken on a person who:  Is unconscious  Has had recent facial or oral surgery  Younger than 5 years old  Is confused  Is heavily sedated  Is coughing  Is being administered oxygen  Has facial paralysis  Has an NG tube

5.  Drinking  Eating  Smoking  Chewing Gum  Some mints  You should wait about 15 minutes after any of the above, before taking

6.  May take more practice to be accurate  May not be as common  Need to be set for adult or child  Position the resident’s head so that the ear is in front of you  Straighten the ear canal by pulling up and back on the outside edge of the ear  Insert the covered probe into the ear canal  Press the button  Hold the thermometer in place either for one second or until thermometer blinks or beeps  Read temperature  Dispose of sheath

8.  Measures heat from skin over the temporal artery  Gentle stroke or scan across the forehead  Non-invasive

9.  Remove patient’s arm from sleeve of gown or top to allow skin contact with the end of the thermometer  Wipe Axillary area with tissues before placing the thermometer  Leave in place 8 to 10 minutes for glass and until beeps or blinks for digital and electronic  Remove from underarm and wipe glass thermometer with a tissue, use a tissue to remove sheath or press button to eject probe cover

10.  Do not take if patient has a rectal injury or has had rectal surgery  Wash hands  Patient should be lying down and on their side  Put on gloves  Apply lubricant to thermometer  Expose rectal area only  Raise upper buttock with one hand  Gently insert 1 inch for glass and 1/2inch for electric

11.  Hold thermometer to prevent thermometer from being drawn in, being pushed out, or patient turning onto it  Leave in place 3 minutes  Remove and wipe with a tissue or remove probe or condom  Read the thermometer  Position patient to comfort  Remove gloves  Wash hands