Opinions about Tympanic Thermometers

[Kristy02_RN]

I was just curious about what you all think about the Tympanic thermometer. I've had them give me a temp as low as 92. Obviously that can't be right?!?! I got into an argument with a physician because my nurses aid gave me a temp of over 100 using a Temporal thermometer, and when the patient was rechecked with a Tympanic we got 97. My guess is that the patient was at least 100. I guess I'm just curious about what thermometer you all think is better. I know rectal is the best but we're not going to probe every patient; so as far as non invasive methods which is better?

I know Temporals have their issues too but I really hate Tympanic thermometers. I think by the time they read that the patient has a fever it's much higher than that. I've had patients that were sweating and felt awful get a reading of 96 Tympanic.

[RheatherN, ASN, RN, EMT-P]

this recently came up in place of work d/t the tympanic not being as accurate as it needs to be for our population of pts, well, it was ordered before anyone else was aware of it. kinda of annoyed btw.

this one states you need to wait 10 full minutes after a hearing aid comes out; myringotomies &/or PE tubes will give a false reading d/t scarring (our population is on the high end of these); if they have been laying on it you have to wait like 10 minutes...

it was a lot of stuff before even getting to the fact that they are usually done quick and not correctly positioned that you will get an inaccurate reading. i can find the company info if you want, they did the research! lol

just my 2 cents

-H-

[monkeybug]

I have a family member who is a pediatrician, and all she uses in her office and with her own kids is a temporal artery scanner. That's what she gives as baby gifts to everyone. I LOVE TAS, but the tympanic ones are crap, imo.