Which statement about measuring body temperature should the nurse include in the in-service for assistive personnel?

• A. Tympanic temperature can be affected by environmental temperature.
• B. Temporal temperature is inaccurate in children under 3 years of age.
• C. Oral temperature is easily accessible despite a client's position.
• D. Axillary temperature reflects rapid changes in a client's core body temperature.

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that the most practical temperature site for assistive personnel is the one that's easily accessible for most patients regardless of how they’re positioned. The oral route fits this best because the mouth is generally accessible in different positions, and a cooperative patient can have the thermometer placed under the tongue without needing the patient to assume a special posture. Teach assistive personnel to get an accurate oral reading by ensuring the mouth remains closed around the probe, and to check that the patient hasn’t eaten, drunk, or smoked within the usual short window before measurement. Remember there are exceptions—oral temperature isn’t used if the patient cannot cooperate, has facial trauma, or cannot safely keep the mouth closed.

Other statements are less reliable for routine training. Tympanic readings can be influenced by ambient temperature and technique, so they require careful placement and interpretation. Temporal readings are generally appropriate for children and adults, so the claim about inaccuracy in children under three isn’t correct. Axillary temperatures tend to change more slowly than core temperatures and may not reflect rapid changes promptly, making them less ideal when quick information is needed.