Mouth forehead ears and axillae are the most accessible parts of the body that have mostly been used by specialists in internal medicine to measure temperature. Methods of body temperature measurements. 1 core body temperature is regulated by both peripheral and central receptors that are integrated within the hypothalamus. Temperature management nursing guideline evidence table 2019. The pulmonary artery catheter which measures blood temperature is considered the gold standard for measuring core temperatures. A healthy body maintains its temperature within a narrow range using homeostatic thermoregulation mechanisms pocock and richards 2009.
Sometimes babies and young children have higher body temperature ranges than adults for armpit and ear measurements. How this article could be used to provide information to patients about temperature measurements. Body temperature is a measure of your bodys ability to make and get rid of heat. How reading this article will change your practice in measuring patients temperature. You may start to sweat. Document the route used in emr.
The body is very good at keeping its temperature within a safe range even when temperatures outside the body change a lot. Assessment of body temperature is important for decisions in nursing care medical diagnosis treatment and the need of laboratory tests. The definition of normal body temperature as 37c was established in the middle of the 19th century. Temperature can be taken by mouth using either the classic glass thermometer or digital thermometers that use an electronic probe to measure body temperature. These sites show body temperature faster and easier and in a noninvasive way but the most appropriate method of measurement is still controversial410. The client has a constant body temperature continuously above 380c with minimal function.
The normal range for core temperature in the literature varies although 36c 375c is acceptable in clinical practice childs 2011. Since then the technical design and the accuracy of thermometers has. When you are too hot the blood vessels in your skin widen to carry the excess heat to your skins surface. 2 autonomic as well as behavioral responses to changes in temperature maintain homeostasis or a range of normal around 37 c. B while assessing a client with chills and fever the nurse observes that the febrile episodes are followed by normal temperatures and that the episodes are longer than 24 hours. Temperatures taken rectally using a glass or digital thermometer tend to be 05f to 07f higher than when taken by mouth.
Due to temperature variation between body sites ideally the same route should be used for ongoing patient observations as to allow for accurate temperature trend evaluation. A normal body temperature for infants aged 02 years ranges from 979100.