The reason I ask that is that this morning I had a gentleman present that was C/O SOA and stated he had been coughing for 2 weeks. His oral temp was 98.8 but he felt hot to touch so I took an axillary temp just to get a ballpark figure on how high it was. The patient had been drinking water prior to oral temp too. Well, the axillary temp was 102.7. Thinking that I had done a good thing, I told the ER doc my findings. You would have thought I was the dumbest person in the world! He began to rant at me that that was NOT an accurate temperature and to get an oral temp. I told him that the patient was drinking water and that I would be glad to get a rectal temp, but he just ranted that I needed to keep this thirsty gentleman NPO until an ACCURATE temp orally could be taken. Needless to say I documented the temps, reporting it to the doc and the fact that he wanted the patient NPO, and did not want a rectal temp at this time. SHEESH!!!! BTW, an oral temp was taken a half hour after the patient had been made NPO, and was still only 99.7. When I reported off to my relief I told her what had happened etc so she would know what was going on if the doc started ranting again.
When my mom was in the hospital and had a temp, they always took her temp axillary. So, how do you take temps where you work? Thanks for letting me vent.
