Temperatures
Vital Signs
 Various
determinations that
provide information about the
basic body conditions of the
patient.
 Four main vital signs:
temperature, pulse, respiration,
and blood pressure.
Other important vital signs…
 That
provide information about
the patient’s condition include
the color of the skin, the size of
the pupils in the eyes and their
reaction to light, the level of
consciousness, and the patient's
response to stimuli.
Health assistants may have
responsibility of measuring and
recording vital signs.
 Not
in realm of duties to reveal
this information to the patient
 Physician will decide if this
information should be told to
patient.
Accuracy Is Essential
 Abnormal
vital signs are often
the first indication of a disease
or abnormality.
Accuracy Is Essential
 Never
guess or report an
inaccurate reading.
 If you note any abnormality or
change in a vital sign, report it
immediately to your supervisor.
 If
you have difficulty
obtaining a correct reading
for any vital sign, ask
another individual to check
the reading.
Temperature
 Measurement
of
the balance
between heat
lost and heat
produced in the
body
 Heat
is lost through
perspiration, respiration and
excretion (urine and feces).
 Heat is produced by metabolism
of food and muscle and gland
activity.
Homeostasis
 Constant
state of fluid balance.
 Ideal health state in the human
body.
Homeostasis
 Rate
of chemical reactions in
body is regulated by the
temperature.
 If temperature is too high or
too low, body’s fluid balance is
also affected.
Variations in Body
Temperature
 Normal
range for body
temperature is 97 degrees F to
100 degrees F.
 Variations caused by individual
differences, time of day, part of
body and other factors.
Time of Day Affects Body
Temperature
 Usually
lower in morning after
body has rested.
 Higher in evening after
muscular activity and food
intake with metabolism.
Parts of Body Where
Temperature Is Measured
Leads to Variations.
 Oral
temperature: measured in mouth
Clinical thermometer left in place 3- 5
minutes
 Normal oral temperature in 98.6
degrees F
 Range 97.6-99.6
 Most common, convenient and
comfortable method

Rectal Temperature

Measured in rectum
Clinical thermometer held in place 3-5
minutes
 Normal rectal temperature is 99.6 to
100.6 f
 Most accurate because it is an internal
measurement

Axillary or groin temperature
 Axillary
is taken in armpit while
upper arm is held close to body
and thermometer is inserted
between two folds of skin
 Groin is taken between two folds of
skin formed by the inner part of the
thigh and lower abdomen
Axillary or Groin Temperature
 Clinical
thermometer is held in
place 10 minutes.
 Normal is 97.6*F.
 Range: 96.6-98.6*F.
 Both types are less accurate
because they are external
temperatures.
Aural Temperature
 Taken
with special thermometer
that is placed in the ear or auditory
canal
 Thermometer detects and
measures the thermal, infrared
energy radiating from blood vessels
in the tympanic membrane or
eardrum.
Aural Temperature
 Since
this provides a
measurement of body core
temperature, there is no
normal range for aural
 Most
tympanic thermometers
will record the temperature
in less than 2 seconds.
Factors Causing an Increase in
Body Temperature
 Illness
and infection
 Exercise
 High temperatures in the
environment
Factors Causing a Decrease in
Body Temperature
 Starvation
or fasting
 Sleep
 Decrease
muscle activity
 Mouth breathing
 Cold temperatures in the
environment
Abnormal Conditions
Hypothermia
Fever
Hyperthermia
Hypothermia
Low body temperature below 95*F (35*C)
rectally
 Can be caused by prolonged exposure to
the cold
 Death usually occurs if temperature drops
below 93*F (33.9*C) for a period of time

Fever
 Elevated
body temperature
 Usually above 101*F (38.3*)
rectally
 Usually caused by infection
or injury
Hyperthermia
Body temperature exceeds 104* F (40*C)
rectally
 Can be caused by prolonged exposure to hot
temperatures, brain damage, or serious
infection
 Immediate actions must be taken to lower
temperature
 Temperatures above 106*F (41.1*C) can
quickly lead to convulsions and death

Clinical thermometers
 Glass
thermometers used to
record temperature
 Consists of a slender glass
tube containing mercury,
which expands when
exposed to heat
Oral thermometer
 Has
a long, SLENDER BULB
AND/OR BLUE TIP
 Security oral thermometer has a
shorter, rounder bulb and may
be marked with a blue tip
Rectal thermometer
 Has
a short, stubby, rounded
bulb, and may be marked
with a red tip
 Some have word oral or
rectal written on the stem
If clinical thermometer breaks,
 the
mercury can evaporate and
create a toxic vapor that can
harm both humans and the
environment
Electronic thermometers
 Used
in many facilities
 Register the temperature on a
viewer in a few seconds
 Used to take oral, rectal, axillary,
and/or groin temperatures
 Blue probes for oral use
 Red probes for axillary or rectal use
Prevent cross contamination
from patient to patient
 Disposable
cover is placed over
thermometer probe before
temperature is taken
 Change disposable covers after
each use
Electronic digital
thermometers are excellent
for home use
 Eliminates
the hazard of a mercury spill
 Small battery operated unit usually will
register the temperature in about 60
seconds on a digital display screen
 Disposable probe covers prevent
contamination of the probe
Tympanic Thermometers
 Specialized
electronic
thermometers
 Records aural temp in the ear
 Disposable cover is placed on the
ear probe
 Probe is inserted into the auditory
canal, and a scan button is pushed
Plastic or paper thermometers
 Used
in some facilities
 Contain special chemical dots or
strips
 Change color when exposed to
specific temperatures
 Used once and discarded
Reading a glass clinical
thermometer
 Hold
it at eye level and find the
solid column of mercury
 Read at the point where the
mercury line ends
 Each long line represents 1 degree
 Exception at times is long line for
98.6*F
Reading a glass clinical
thermometer
 98.6*F
represents normal oral
body temperature
 Each short line represents 0.2
degrees (two-tenths)
 Temperature recorded to
nearest tow-tenths of a degree
Recording temperature
 If
temperature is taken orally, not
necessary to indicate an oral
reading
 For rectal temperature, Place a (R)
by the reading
 For axillary temperature, place an
(Ax) by the reading
Recording temperature
 For
groin temperature, place a
(Gr) by the reading
 For aural temperature, place a
(T) for tympanic by the reading
Avoid factors that could alter
or change temperature
 Eating,
drinking
hot or cold
liquids and/or
smoking can
alter the
temperature in
the mouth

Ask before
checking the
patient’s temp, if
the patient has
done any of these
things , wait 15
minutes before
checking
temperature
Cleaning thermometers
Glass clinical thermometers
 Must be cleaned thoroughly after use
 Follow agency procedure
 Wipe with soapy cotton ball or gauze
pad after use

 Rinse
in cool water to prevent
breakage and to avoid destroying
column of mercury
Shake the thermometer down
to 96*F
Hold securely between thumb and index
finger
 Use a snapping motion of the wrist
 Avoid countertops, tables, and so forth
 Soak in a disinfectant (frequently 70 %
alcohol) for a minimum of 30 minutes

Paper/plastic sheath on glass
thermometer
Used to cover thermometer while
temperature is taken
 Discarded after use
 Thermometer remains clean because
there is no contact with patient
 Many agencies still soak in disinfectants
between use.

Electronic and tympanic
thermometers
 Probe
covered with plastic sheath
 Plastic sheath discarded after each
use
 No contamination of probe
 Follow agency policy for cleaning
and care of thermometers