Mom hand

Specialties School

Published

  • by OhioBPH
    Specializes in School health, pediatrics.

I was having a long talk with a student today about hands being unreliable thermometers, and decided to demonstrate to her the difference in them btwn hand and forehead.

Infrared on MY hand: 97.0

Infrared on MY forehead: 100.9! What the heck?!

I have been repeating my temp anytime I'm alone and I'm steady around 100, but still, um...I better not be getting sick again, I just got the all clear from my pneumonia on Monday!

nmr79

218 Posts

Oh no! I hope it's nothing!

Amethya

1,821 Posts

Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.

Just remember temp changes during the day, so maybe it's a fluke?

I know how you feel, I was at a family party and this lady that was family of my cousin's wife, was coughing all over the place and at the end of the night she mentions, "Oh I had had pneumonia lately, but I been at the doctor and took antibiotics for the last few days, but I'm still not feeling well."

And I was in range of her coughing fits.

:eek:

ruby_jane, BSN, RN

3,142 Posts

Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.

Your mom hand is broken....

But seriously, hope you are OK!

MrNurse(x2), ADN

2,558 Posts

Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

100 degrees minus IR variable of 2 degrees = 98, 101.9 -2 = 98.9. There you go (in my best Greek accent from My Big Fat Greek Wedding).

cid1

69 Posts

My son was sick last week and asked me to "feel him". He felt cool and I told him, he asked me to give him a number. I told him 97. I then took his temp. 97.9 BOO-YAH!!! he was impressed (so was ).

WineRN

1,109 Posts

Specializes in NCSN.

Oh no surprise fever!

My hands are always freezing, so everything feels warm to me lol

ruby_jane, BSN, RN

3,142 Posts

Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.
My son was sick last week and asked me to "feel him". He felt cool and I told him, he asked me to give him a number. I told him 97. I then took his temp. 97.9 BOO-YAH!!! he was impressed (so was ).

Your mom hand is fully functional.

Amethya

1,821 Posts

Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.

I think my mom hand is broken. I feel them warm and then they have a fever.

SaltineQueen

913 Posts

Specializes in School Nurse, past Med Surge.

IMO mom lips are more accurate, but I'm not about to go kissing the heads of all the kiddos around here.

moreoreo

218 Posts

Specializes in School Nursing.

I have one teacher who I think has cold hands because she has sent at least a dozen children down this year with "forehead is hot" passes and none of them have had even a mildly elevated temp. I admit that sometimes as I am checking with my thermometer even my hands will feel a "heat wave" from a child's face that turns out not to be febrile!

There is one other teacher who used to send many students but has scaled back; she just recently sent me two consecutive students with "feels warm"? passes that had legitimate fevers and I was so impressed!

I'm sorry for your incidental fever-- I always run high so sometimes when I "check" my thermometer I am surprised by what I find, too. Hope you are feeling well!

AdobeRN

1,294 Posts

My "mom" hands never work...I think I am the only one who can't tell if a kid has a fever by touching them. Kids always feel warm to my hands no matter what their temp is.

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