Taking an oral temperature
Position the tip of the thermometer under the patient’s tongue, as far back as possible on either side of the frenulum linguae. Placing the tip in this area promotes contact with superficial blood vessels and contributes to an accurate reading.
Instruct the patient to close his lips but to avoid biting down with his teeth. Biting can break the thermometer, cutting the mouth or lips or causing ingestion of broken glass or mercury.
Leave a mercury thermometer in place for at least 2 minutes or a chemical-dot thermometer in place for 45 seconds to register temperature; for an electronic thermometer, wait until the maximum temperature is displayed.
For a mercury thermometer, remove and discard the disposable sheath; then read the temperature at eye level, noting it before shaking down the thermometer. For an electronic thermometer, note the temperature; then remove and discard the probe cover. For the chemical-dot thermometer, read the temperature as the last dye dot that has changed color, or fired; then discard the thermometer and its dispenser case
procedure – Taking an oral temperature
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