Best thermometer?

[RoxanneBB]

I work in LTC. I need advice on a reliable thermometer. I know it is best to use the facility thermometer as those are routinely checked and calibrated but ai want one to have if I suspect a temp and don't want to run down the long hallway to drag the Dynamap just for a temp. Any favorites out there? I also wouldn't mind hearing your input on BP cuffs, PulseOx...etc. Thank you in advance.

[amoLucia]

Informal surveying of LTC nurses out there - anyone EVER see the thermometers checked & calibrated where you work??? I never did.

Just asking ...

To OP - I always had my own equip. My places never had any rules prohibiting their use. I took care of my equip. It wasn't banged around or dropped. I figured that my conscientious & responsible care made for accurate readings.

Did anyone else ever notice facility BP cuffs manometer faces/dials being some 20 points off with a crack in the glass? Tell me that that was more accurate than my own ...

[RoxanneBB]

Honestly I never see them serviced. The only reason I mentioned it in my post is because I saw in other posts that many nurses attacked the OP about not using their own equipment due to accuracy...etc. I feel the same way you do, hence my post.

[amoLucia]

Just FYI - there are many facilities that DO have prohibitions about non-facility equip. It all does have to do with accuracy and liability. You will have to follow your place's rules. That was the rationale from those other posters.

Usually the hospitals are more stringent. You're lucky if you can even find the pulse ox in a little LTC - staff were notoriously sloppy re keeping track of it, or were freq dropping it. Some nights, we'd have NO thermometers. So ...

I bought good equip, took care of it, RARELY loaned it to anyone, had my own supply fresh batteries, etc. I had it when I needed it. And I trusted it. (I was aware of the accuracy issues.)

[RoxanneBB]

Mu facility allows it. Most of my coworkers have their own. So do tou have any brands you would recommend? Thank you so much for your input.

[Nursynursenurse, ADN, RN]

I use a Relion thermometer that I got at Walmart for about $10. It's accurate, easy to use, and I keep it in my pocket all day. It does go through battery quick but I do use it frequently.

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

I've never ever seen vital sign equiptment callibrated in LTC. The only thing I've seen checked are the scales.

[amoLucia]

I've never ever seen vital sign equiptment callibrated in LTC. The only thing I've seen checked are the scales.

This is what I'm saying. Also what about cleanliness?

I'd be curious to culture the inside of a pulse ox. Hmmmmm.

And those BP cuffs with the cracked/off balanced dials ... I've wrapped them up to send to maintenance, and they just seem to reappear. And when there's no more thermometer ear probe covers ...

I remember getting my thermometer at Walmart too.

[mikijam03lpn]

Try a tympanic thermometer...

[Julius Seizure]

Try a tympanic thermometer...

Or temporal

[phalanx]

A facility I worked at previously decided we couldn't use our own equipment. They bought 2 Dynamaps to be used for 120 residents. :facepalm:And the medaides commandeered them for 95% of the shift so it was just ridiculous for them to be threatening nurses with writeups for using their own stuff. They never calibrated them either. My current facility--one dynamap in the whole building that works (~100 residents...) but they don't have a policy on the books about using your own stuff. I just have a little ol' walmart special.