NURSING

Report on a Nursing skill - Checking a Patient's Temperature

[Word Count: 1263]Report on a Nursing skill - Checking a Patient's Temperature

Introduction

The paper demonstrates the process of checking temperature of a patient, as a nursing skill. Temperature is an important component of vital signs because it helps to determine amount of heat in the core body (Vital Signs 2009, p1). It lists down the procedure and temperature results observed in the lab. Moreover, the paper provides evidence from the recommended sources to report and justify the temperature abnormalities, if any, and quickly explain the application of theory into practice. Finally, a conclusion is drawn on the overall exercise of nursing skill to summarize outcomes of clinical learning and experience.

Procedure

In the lab, Julia introduces herself to John (patient) and ask for his consent to check his temperature. It is important to take consent of the patient before checking temperature because it can help patient to relieve anxiety (Woodrow et. al. 2006, p1012). Then, she assesses a suitable position and sitting place for John. Moreover, hand decontamination is done. According to Jenkins (2011, p226), hand is a main source of transmitting infection, which makes hand hygiene a significant concern for healthcare providers. It is certainly one of the most cost-effective methods to prevent health related infections (HRI) (Gould 2002, p48). It is a hand hygiene activity to remove bacteria or harmful content from nurse's hands prior to checking the patient.

Julia arranges equipment on a nearby table, and then selects an ear thermometer and disposable cover. She attaches disposable cover to the right ear of John, in order to clean the skin before checking the temperature of John. She asks John to sit upright and inserts the probe into tympanic membrane of John in order to measure the core body temperature. She asks John to maintain the same body position, unless the temperature is recorded. The probe is kept within the ear of John for a definite time limit to take the reading. Then, Julia carefully removes the thermometer while avoiding any prospect of cross contamination that may mislead the noted reading. Julia carefully reads and records the temperature of John. During four intervals of appropriate length of time, the process of taking temperature measure is repeated four times. Once, the process of recording temperature was done, Julia disposed off the cover into a clinical wastage bag. Skill demonstration was ended up with hand decontamination.

Moreover, Julia properly noted results and signified any variation in John's temperature. Documentation is important to outline a careful treatment plan of the patient. In case of non-recorded temperature reading, it may put the life of patient at stake due to wrong decision made by the nurse (Woodrow et. al. 2006, p1012). Since the process of checking temperature was done in a specified length of time and each reading was noted after an average of 8 hours, proper documentation will assist the nurse to observe sensitivity to environment or any other issue of the patient's ...