A. Glass thermometer

1. If stored in a chemical solution, remove from storage container and rinse under cool water for removing disinfectant, which can irritate oral mucosa and have an objectionable taste. Cool water prevents the expansion of mercury.

2. Use tissue to dry from bulb end toward fingertips for the purpose of wiping from least to most contaminated.

3. Check mercury level. It should be 35° C (95° F) or below. It must be below normal body temperature to ensure accurate reading.

4. If not below 35° C (95° F), grasp the nonbulb end of the thermometer firmly with thumb and forefinger and shake briskly by snapping the wrist in a downward motion.

b. Electronic thermometer.

1. Remove from charger.

2. Place disposable sheath over the probe for reducing transmission of microorganisms.

3. Grasp tip of probe stem, avoiding pressure on the ejection button. Pressure on the ejection button releases the sheath from the probe.

4. Place the tip of the thermometer under the tongue along the gum line to the posterior sublingual pocket with the aim of ensuring contact with the large blood vessels under the tongue.

5. Instruct the child to close mouth around the thermometer for maintains appropriate placement, decreases time needed to obtain accurate reading. Open mouth breathing produces an abnormally low reading.

6. If electronic, turn on scanner and follow manufacturer’s instructions.

7. Leave under tongue required amount of time. Stay with child while thermometer in place to reduces risk of injury.

a. Glass thermometer: 3–5 minutes as specified by agency policy in order to allow sufficient time to register accurate results.

b. Electronic thermometer: will sound tone or beep when finished recording temperature.

8. Remove thermometer and read temperature.

a. Glass thermometer.

1. Wipe with tissue away from fingers toward bulb end as necessary to read thermometer. Wipe from most contaminated to least contaminated area.

2. Read at eye level. Rotate slowly until mercury level visualized to ensure accurate reading.

b. Electronic thermometer: read digital display.

9. Clean and store thermometer.

a. Glass thermometer.

1. Wipe toward bulb end of thermometer with soft tissue for reducing spread of microorganisms; mucus on thermometer may interfere with effectiveness of disinfectant solution.

2. Cleanse with cool soapy water and rinse under cool water. Shake down the thermometer. Mechanical cleansing removes secretions that promote growth of microorganisms. Hot water may cause coagulation of secretions and expansion of mercury in thermometer.

4. Wash hands for reducing transmission of microorganisms.

b. Electronic thermometer.

1. Push ejection button and discard disposable sheath into an appropriate receptacle because of the danger of reducing transmission of microorganisms.

2. Return probe to storage well.

3. Wash hands to prevent you from reducing transmission of microorganisms.

4. Return electronic thermometer to the storage unit.

Ex.2 Read the following instruction and transfer it into the form of advice using modal verbs to be to, should, ought to, must:

Modal: Select a thermometer: glass with rectal bulb (usually red tipped) or electronic.– You are to select a thermometer: with rectal bulb (usually red tipped) or electronic.