Wear gloves to take oral temp?

Nursing Students Excelsior

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Specializes in GI, Outpatient Surgery.

Do we wear gloves when taking an oral temp? I thought the study guide says yes due to risk for contact with oral secretions, but on the epn it says no. Im confused on which is correct?

it states, "yes if likely to come in contact with oral secretions. otherwise, gloves are not required..." the way i interpreted is if i have a confused patient, or a patient that's very anxious (moving around a lot) i would think you would probably need to wear gloves... otherwise no.... let's see what everyone else thinks..

Specializes in GI.

Yes, you need to wear gloves. If you come into contact with someones elses fluids you need to be protected!

Specializes in Tele/Neuro/Trauma.

I am confused now too, because on the EC DVD it shows someone taking an oral temp with no gloves, and I thought in the study guide it said we need to for any risk of body fluids. I don't know. I think I would prob put gloves on to be safe anyways.

ETA: I just read your response to her. I want to see what she says!! Sometimes I am leery of the posts on there, because they are contraindicating what the study guide says....

Specializes in GI, Outpatient Surgery.
I am confused now too, because on the EC DVD it shows someone taking an oral temp with no gloves, and I thought in the study guide it said we need to for any risk of body fluids. I don't know. I think I would prob put gloves on to be safe anyways.

ETA: I just read your response to her. I want to see what she says!! Sometimes I am leery of the posts on there, because they are contraindicating what the study guide says....

I agree completely! I saw your post and the response, but it didnt make sense with the study guide. Im going to wear gloves. What if you are bringing the thermometer gauge to their mouth and they cough??? Ew- secretions.... hell-o!

Also, thermometers are digital so how can you get that wrong by the what 0.2+/- degree??

Specializes in Tele/Neuro/Trauma.
I agree completely! I saw your post and the response, but it didnt make sense with the study guide. Im going to wear gloves. What if you are bringing the thermometer gauge to their mouth and they cough??? Ew- secretions.... hell-o!

Also, thermometers are digital so how can you get that wrong by the what 0.2+/- degree??

On the DVD, the only thing that they show during the vital signs is the student checking the temp and then showing the examiner the screen for all the PCS that they have. The DVD is weird. All the pt's are in like a ward and they never show the students pulling the curtain. Also for neuro assessment on the PCS that the student passes, he only does motor skills on the feet and just grips on the hands. I wonder if they realize that.

It shows the lady also doing all her skill stations pretty much without saying a WORD. I am probably going to be in there talking to myself so much they ask me to zip it.

Specializes in GI, Outpatient Surgery.
On the DVD, the only thing that they show during the vital signs is the student checking the temp and then showing the examiner the screen for all the PCS that they have. The DVD is weird. All the pt's are in like a ward and they never show the students pulling the curtain. Also for neuro assessment on the PCS that the student passes, he only does motor skills on the feet and just grips on the hands. I wonder if they realize that.

It shows the lady also doing all her skill stations pretty much without saying a WORD. I am probably going to be in there talking to myself so much they ask me to zip it.

Sounds to me like it maybe a bit out of date possibly.

Specializes in GI, Outpatient Surgery.

This was a response on the epn.... It makes more sense now!

The SG doesn't say you are supposed to use gloves. On page 168 of the 17th Edition SG, it says, "Taking an oral or rectal temperature may place you at risk for body fluid pathogen transmissions; therefore gloves MAY be needed to maintain Standard Precautions." It goes on to say that it depends on your patient as to what protection you will need. You should use gloves if your patient is drooling, but not if your patient has good control of oral secretions.

Specializes in Tele/Neuro/Trauma.
This was a response on the epn.... It makes more sense now!

The SG doesn't say you are supposed to use gloves. On page 168 of the 17th Edition SG, it says, "Taking an oral or rectal temperature may place you at risk for body fluid pathogen transmissions; therefore gloves MAY be needed to maintain Standard Precautions." It goes on to say that it depends on your patient as to what protection you will need. You should use gloves if your patient is drooling, but not if your patient has good control of oral secretions.

Thanks!

I am so used to working in my hospital, we serve an interesting population to say the least.... that it is going to be so hard for me not to touch a patient without gloves on. I wear gloves to do just about EVERYTHING. Isn't that horrible? I won't even touch the call bell in the patient's rooms without gloves. I can't tell you how many times I've gone to check grips (with gloves on) and ended up with a skid mark on one of my gloves. I've found poop on overbed tables. I've had patients pee in their water pitcher and in trash cans and spit on the floor. I can't tell you how many times I have gagged when I lifted off a pt's sock ad a snowfall of skin and 2 foot toenails come back at me. I've had patients with roaches crawl out of their trachs and maggots in between their toes.

I am sure that I will do fine, but it is really going to be hard to break the habit and remember I am not where I usually am.

Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

when i did the cpne in feb of 2009 i had to wear gloves to do a temp. i was because you may come in contact with secretions. double check with the current cpne manual.....there are so many rules associated with this test it is so easy to get off track:uhoh3:....glad im done with it :yeah:

Specializes in GI, Outpatient Surgery.
Thanks!

I am so used to working in my hospital, we serve an interesting population to say the least.... that it is going to be so hard for me not to touch a patient without gloves on. I wear gloves to do just about EVERYTHING. Isn't that horrible? I won't even touch the call bell in the patient's rooms without gloves. I can't tell you how many times I've gone to check grips (with gloves on) and ended up with a skid mark on one of my gloves. I've found poop on overbed tables. I've had patients pee in their water pitcher and in trash cans and spit on the floor. I can't tell you how many times I have gagged when I lifted off a pt's sock ad a snowfall of skin and 2 foot toenails come back at me. I've had patients with roaches crawl out of their trachs and maggots in between their toes.

I am sure that I will do fine, but it is really going to be hard to break the habit and remember I am not where I usually am.

Holy cow girl! What state facility are younworking at?!? Idont blame you for NOT using gloves! We do tpuch pts alot without gloves, especially kids. Especially in recovery.

Specializes in GI, Outpatient Surgery.
when i did the cpne in feb of 2009 i had to wear gloves to do a temp. i was because you may come in contact with secretions. double check with the current cpne manual.....there are so many rules associated with this test it is so easy to get off track:uhoh3:....glad im done with it :yeah:

the study guide says you may need to wear gloves. where did you test at??

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