[jadamsrn]

Found this article. Guess I'll start taking oral temps in intubated patients. http://www.aacn.org/AACN/jrnlajcc.ns...5?OpenDocument

Still doesn't excuse the ICU nurse for being a witch, however.

[HAPPYNPROUD]

i work in the er. we use foley's for our temps.

[sofaraway04]

I've probably taken an oral temp about 2 times ever. everywhere I've been as a student or worked has used tympanic thermometers. they are easy to use and i've never had a problem with accuracy, apart from a couple of pateint who had very blocked ears from wax.

[ERJUNKIE4LIFE]

Thanks I've been trying to find that article again.

[cardiacRN2006]

I use oral on intubated pts who don't have a foley/esophageal temp probe.

If the mouth is dry or one that won't close, then I do axillary.


I've had rectal temp probes before, but otherwise, I find no need for a rectal temp.


Would never rely on tympanic. Just based on 10 years of being a tech, and finding that the results vary too widely for my comfort.

[scattycarrot]

Originally Posted by cardiacRN2006

Would never rely on tympanic. Just based on 10 years of being a tech, and finding that the results vary too widely for my comfort.

I agree with you! They are particulary inaccurate when the patient has come in from the outside or has been waiting in an cold waiting area. Now obviously this doesn't matter with your intubated patiients in the ICU but when you are at triage, it is an important point to remember. I have seen other nurses document patients as hypothermic when actually they are nice and warm to the touch!

[S.T.A.C.E.Y]

The ER I work in only really uses tympanic thermometers. Theres a few rectal things for continuous monitoring in one of the drawers, but they've got alot of dust on them. I have yet to see a regular oral or rectal thermometer, and never a foley one. Funny, 'cause at the last ER I did clinicals in they absolutely refused to use the tympanic unless it was a last resort b/c they felt very strongly about its inaccuracy.