Where should the nurse place the probe of an oral electronic thermometer for the most accurate reading?

Correct answer: B. Under the tongue in a posterior pocket

  • A. Between the teeth and inner cheek
  • B. Under the tongue in a posterior pocket
  • C. On top of the tongue near the frenulum
  • D. Against the hard palate behind the incisors

Explanation

The probe is placed in a posterior sublingual pocket, where blood flow gives a reliable oral temperature. The patient should close the lips without biting the thermometer; placing it on the cheek or hard palate can produce a less accurate reading.

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About Vital Signs and Monitoring

Vital signs include temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, oxygen saturation and pain assessment. Coverage includes correct measurement sites and techniques, normal adult ranges, factors that alter readings, trends in patient observations, and the difference between an abnormal finding that needs reassessment and one requiring immediate reporting.

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