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Rationale and key points Being able to accurately assess and record a patient’s temperature is an essential nursing skill, and should be undertaken as part of a wider systematic assessment of the patient. Any concerns regarding individual recordings or trends should be escalated to other members of the healthcare team as appropriate. • A baseline assessment of a patient’s temperature enables any changes or fluctuations to be observed, and escalated where clinically indicated. • Accurate assessment and recording of a patient’s temperature provides an indication of their clinical condition and severity of illness. • Undertaking regular temperature readings enables trends to be identified, the effectiveness of treatment to be determined, and improvement or deterioration of the patient to be assessed. Reflective activity ‘How to’ articles can support you to update your practice and ensure it remains evidence-based. Apply this article to your practice. Reflect and write a short account of: • How reading this article may change your practice when taking and recording the patient’s temperature. • Any further needs you have identified to enable your professional development. Nursing Standard. doi: 10.7748/ns.2021.e11679 Peer review This article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software Correspondence
Conflict of interest None declared Myatt R (2021) How to take a patient’s temperature. Nursing Standard. doi: 10.7748/ns.2021.e11679 Disclaimer Please note that information provided by Nursing Standard is not sufficient to make the reader competent to perform the task. All clinical skills should be formally assessed according to local policy and procedures. It is the nurse’s responsibility to ensure their practice remains up to date and reflects the latest evidence Published online: 08 February 2021 Want to read more?Already subscribed? Log inORUnlock full access to RCNi Plus todaySave over 50% on your first 3 monthsYour subscription package includes:
Subscribe RCN student member? Try Nursing Standard StudentAlternatively, you can purchase access to this article for the next seven days. Buy now Or A comprehensive health assessment gives nurses insight into a patient’s physical status through observation, the measurement of vital signs and self-reported symptoms. It includes a medical history, a general survey and a complete physical examination. The general survey consists of a patient’s age, weight, height, build, posture, gait and hygiene. Nurses use health assessments to obtain baseline data about patients and to build a rapport with them that can ease anxiety and lead to a trusting relationship. A comprehensive health assessment is generally conducted at the time of admission into an acute care facility or during the first visit to an outpatient clinic. When nurses perform an assessment, they may use techniques such as: Inspection This is the most frequently used method for assessment. Nurses look for indications of a health problem by using their eyes, ears and nose. They may inspect skin color, lesions, bruises or rashes as well as pay attention to abnormal sounds and odors. Auscultation Nurses listen to the sounds of the abdomen by placing the diaphragm or bell of a stethoscope on the bare skin of a patient. Palpation Nurses apply varying degrees of pressure on the patient with different parts of their hands. Palpation allows nurses to assess for texture, tenderness, temperature, moisture, pulsations and the presence of masses. Percussion Nurses firmly press on sections of a patient’s body with the distal part the middle finger on their non-dominant hand. The technique is used directly over suspected areas of tenderness to check a patient’s level of discomfort. What Steps Are Involved in a Comprehensive Health Assessment?Typically, a comprehensive assessment begins with documenting a patient’s health history before starting a physical exam. According to AMN Healthcare Education Services, the health history includes: the patient’s medical complaint, present state of health, past health record, current lifestyle, psychosocial status and family history. The health history provides nurses with in-depth information about symptoms, childhood illnesses, related medical experiences and risks for developing certain diseases. After the health history data is recorded, a physical is conducted which covers a review of the patient’s body systems. A head to toe examination includes assessments of the following:
A thorough and accurate assessment is important because it helps differentiate the normal condition of the patient from the abnormal. And, a comprehensive health assessment establishes if a patient needs diagnostic testing or additional medical care. How Can Earning a BSN Improve a Nurse’s Assessment Skills?Nurses learn assessment skills in nursing school. An online RN to BSN program like the one offered by Eastern Illinois University (EIU) includes the course Advanced Nursing Health Assessment that prepares students to perform precise examination. The curriculum builds on a nurse’s basic nursing assessment proficiencies. Once nurses earn the BSN, they are prepared to give a comprehensive health assessment and apply the knowledge to make sound clinical judgements. A comprehensive health assessment is a crucial component in the nursing practice. Without it, nurses can have a difficult time pinpointing a patient’s medical requirements. It is not enough for patients to tell nurses what is wrong. Instead, nurses need to rely on the observations they record from physical examinations to decide on a course of action. By completing a systematic and efficient assessment, nurses are able to communicate with patients and help them take measures to maintain or manage their health. Learn more about Eastern Illinois University’s online RN to BSN program. Sources: RN.com: Overview of Nursing Health Assessment Nurse.org: How to Conduct a Head-to-Toe Assessment RegisteredNursing.org: Techniques of Physical Assessment: NCLEX-RN Health Science Journal: Health Assessment The Nerdy Nurse: Subjective Data Vs. Objective Data in Nursing What is the best technique for assessing skin temperature?What is the best technique to use to best assess the patient's skin temperature? Use the: ANS: dorsal surface of the hand because the skin is thinner than on the palms. The dorsa (backs) of hands and fingers are best for determining temperature because the skin there is thinner than on the palms.
What is the proper technique of assessing skin temperature which part of the hand should you use and why?Use the ulnar portion of the hand because there is increased blood supply that enhances temperature sensitivity. 4. Use the palmar surface of the hand because it is most sensitive to temperature variations because of increased nerve supply in this area.
What assessment technique is performed for every body part and body system?Inspection is the only technique that is used when assessing every body part and system.
What are the four techniques used for patient assessment?WHEN YOU PERFORM a physical assessment, you'll use four techniques: inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation.
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Which assessment technique should the nurse use to determine the body temperature of a patient?
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