Non-Contact Thermometers?

[chasinRT]

The probe broke on my oral thermometer yesterday. The non-contact thermometers are half the price of a new probe, and I would no longer have to buy probe covers. What do you use?

[Davey Do]

2 hours ago, OldDude said:

I trust the back of my hand more than a non-contact or even a temporal thermometer.

[AdobeRN]

I purchased one to use with those kids with sensory issues, non verbal etc - I do not like it, I don't think it is accurate at all.

[Davey Do]

4 hours ago, chasinRT said:

The probe broke on my oral thermometer yesterday.

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

I think this one is in my top 5 favorite comics!

17 hours ago, Davey Do said:

[aprilmoss]

Yeah, I went from the old Welch with the two probes (somedays I'd really like to have threatened my frequent flyers with the rectal side) to a tympanic. Only issue is every once and a while I'll get a kid with an ear ache, just use the other side.

[Floor_Nurse]

I started using a non-touch tympanic thermometer back when I worked with psychotic patients. Very accurate (in my opinion). I still use it today, though there have been times when I had to use a rectal probe type.

[halohg, RN]

I started getting so frustrated by the high number of staff coming in for temperature checks for themselves that I told them I only do rectal temp checks now. Well that request came to an end real fast. ?

[MisRN]

On 2/5/2019 at 12:01 PM, chasinRT said:

This is what I have and it's the second one that the probe broke! The little plastic piece that holds the probe cover broke off.

This is what I have in my office and when I started several years ago, I noticed that piece was cracked (if it's the end you hold that you're talking about). I threw some "waterproof first aid tape" around it to hold it in place and it's been that way for 4 years.

I also purchased a non contact thermometer this year, but really it's for the littles (3-5) year olds who are scared to put the thermometer in their mouth. I could have used it the other day but I forgot I even had it. I don't think they're very accurate.

[OldDude]

Here's just another example of what I'm talking about. I had a kid in c/o of HA, his oral temp was 99.7 on arrival, I let him lay down and he immediately fell asleep...you know what's next...I let him sleep for 30 minutes. I checked his temp afterwards, while he was still asleep, in the middle of his forehead, with my infrared non-contact thermometer and it read 98.7. I woke him up, checked his oral temp and it was 102.4.

[CanIcallmymom, BSN, RN]

17 hours ago, OldDude said:

Here's just another example of what I'm talking about. I had a kid in c/o of HA, his oral temp was 99.7 on arrival, I let him lay down and he immediately fell asleep...you know what's next...I let him sleep for 30 minutes. I checked his temp afterwards, while he was still asleep, in the middle of his forehead, with my infrared non-contact thermometer and it read 98.7. I woke him up, checked his oral temp and it was 102.4.

I refuse to use them for the same reason as that right there! I will get an axillary before I even think about the infrared.

[Amethya]

I am planning to get one but I'm not sure which one would be fine to get. Any good recommendations in a good price?

[EnoughWithTheIce]

On 2/5/2019 at 10:59 AM, OldDude said:

I trust the back of my hand more than a non-contact or even a temporal thermometer. Spend the money on the new probe.

Me too!! If I did not have my sure temp - I would have to quit!!