What is the first action to take before measuring an oral temperature?

Before measuring an oral temperature, the first action should be to clean the thermometer. This is essential for several reasons. Firstly, cleaning the thermometer ensures that it is sanitized and free from any bacteria or contaminants that could affect the patient’s health. Using a clean thermometer is vital in preventing cross-contamination and infections, especially in healthcare settings.

Cleaning the thermometer also guarantees accuracy in the temperature readings by ensuring that any residue or previous readings do not interfere. A thermometer that has not been properly cleaned could provide false readings if there were remnants from a prior use, leading to incorrect assessments of the patient's temperature and potentially affecting the course of treatment.

The other actions, while important in the overall process of checking temperature, do not take precedence over the necessity of cleaning the thermometer. Checking for fever or ensuring the patient is calm are actions that may be relevant later in the assessment process, and waiting for five minutes would be pertinent only if the temperature was taken immediately after a meal or hot beverage. Therefore, cleaning the thermometer is the crucial initial step before proceeding with the measurement.