What is a safe action to take when assessing a neonate's temperature?

Ensuring good skin contact is vital when assessing a neonate's temperature because it allows for a more accurate measurement. Neonates have delicate skin and can be particularly sensitive to temperature fluctuations. When using devices like skin temperature probes or infrared thermometers, ensuring good contact helps to eliminate air gaps that could lead to inaccurate readings. It also promotes better thermal regulation for the neonate, as they can be prone to hypothermia or hyperthermia due to their immature physiological responses.

Other methods like placing the probe on bony areas may lead to less accurate temperature readings due to those areas not reflecting core body temperature well. Using a rectal thermometer, while traditionally a method for obtaining accurate core temperature in infants, carries risks of injury or discomfort, and may not always be appropriate, especially in certain clinical situations. Measuring under the arm can be less reliable for determining core body temperature in neonates compared to ensuring skin contact at other sites, such as the forehead or abdomen. Thus, promoting good skin contact is the safest and most effective action when assessing temperature in neonates.