Normal temperatures =)

We do temps in Celsius, so you can probably imagine the kinds of conversations that happen around that. We do our weights in kilograms too, which people (usually the family member who has nonstop questions while I'm trying to admit their family member who has spent the last six hours in the ED) always want to know what that is in pounds. I don't do the math for them, as I am usually busy getting their family member admitted. I tell them that one kilogram is 2.2 pounds, and let them figure it out (hoping that the mental gymnastics will shut their mouth for a few minutes; it never does. People are too lazy to do math in their heads). Their next question is always when the patient will get to eat, while I'm still taking the extra linens out from under them and doing my head to toe assessment. Sheesh, people, go get a cup of coffee and let me do my work! Granny will get something to eat when it's time! I'm sure she would rather be all tucked in and warm and dry when she eats anyway!

[/rant]

Yup, happens here too ....

"Whats my temperature?"

"It's 36.8"

"Oh, I thought I felt warm, I DO have a fever!"

"No, thats well within the normal range of adult temperatures"

"Oh, but I normally run low, so thats a fever for me .... will the doctor write me a prescription for antibiotics?"

"Well I doubt that the doctor will consider than temperature anything but normal, but I cannot answer for him/her and of course they will have to examine you first"

"Oh, well, shouldn't I be lying down someplace so that my fever doesn't get worse?"

"You will be fine in the waiting room, you really don't have a fever"

"Oh, but I normally run so, so thats a fever for me....................................."

as a school nurse i get the other end of the spectrum -

"Mrs. Smith, your child is sick and needs to be picked up."

"Does she have a fever?"

"Yes, 100.8" (anything over 100.0 is a fever per policy)

"Oh, that's not a fever for her - she usually runs hot"

...sigh...

"Oh, but I normally run low, so thats a fever for me .... will the doctor write me a prescription for antibiotics?"

RN: "No, I'm sorry, he won't. In fact, he says you have to leave now."

Pt: "What? Really?"

RN: "Yes, really. He says you have to leave right now, and if you don't, he's going to kill you?"

Pt: "Kill me? He can't do that!"

RN: "Actually he can. Then he'll make it look like an accident. He's killed before, and he's not adverse to doing it again."

Pt: "But why would he do that?"

RN: "Because numerous randomized controlled trials have shown that you are very very annoying, and sometimes it's just better to head these problems off early before they get out of control."

I am also a school nurse and hear that kind of stuff all the time. 98.9 is a fever because they normally run 97.0 and they should be sent home, and if they do have a fever, say 101.0, then you call the parent to p-up and they say they are not sick just dehydrated or some other dumb excuse so they don't have to p-up their child!

My prob runs the other way. I don't run temps. When I get sick my temp drops. I had pneumonia twice (w/o temp) and Dr refused to believe me when I told him that was what I had. He insisted I try this script he gave me and if no better return on monday. I agreed and on monday I was in his office as he walked thru the door. He did a chest x-ray and was surprized to find I pneumonia.

Oh yeah, I get this one all the time.

A few people are content with " I will record this in your chart. Your doctor will want to see how your temperatures are trending." Like duh, I wouldn't otherwise be charting this.

Post-ops get to do their incentive spirometers more, heh, heh.:wink2:

I have been known to threaten blood cultures x2. But the idea the the doc might commit murder, I like It!

hey P RN:

What does 'never forget' mean in your signature space?

I assumed it was in reference to 9/11.

hey P RN:

What does 'never forget' mean in your signature space?

I think that's the "Slogan" for 9/11...people generally use it in reference to that horrible day.

I work on a floor with a steady influx of GI patients. General protocol for the group is to let temps ride until around 101.5.

My usual responses are:

97.o: "It takes my temp at that as well"

99-100.5: Your body is working its course, fevers are part of the healing process, my job is to manage that process. Then I list symptoms of impending spikes and we work together to manage. Also I find a moderately cool cloth makes most patients feel a lot better about not being stuffed with tylenol the second they go out of the normal range.

I had a family member concerned once because the patients BP was 137/78. They told me it was too low since he normally ran in the 150's systolically. It took a lot not to give them the patient look you give a child when they are being silly.

Tait

PS. The scary thing about temps is how fast they can move. I had a guy recently who went from shivers and 98.4 to 104.9 in less than 10 minutes. I learned a lot that day, even how to operate an ancient cooling blanket machine!