taking temperatures?

we always use axillary....

i haven't seen a rectal temp is some time.

we use tempa dots.... u just put them under the arm, parents or urself if parent not there gently hold arm down. we do not force arm down...then read dots and throw away, very easy to do. we never do rectal unless absolutely necessary. i have never done one.

in older childrenthey can be placed in the mouth, under the tongue

we NEVER do rectal temps unless ordered by MD (and that is usually a one-time thing). There is no need to traumatize the child physically or emotionally when the information can be had much simpler.

I forgot to add that tympanics are not used by our nurses on the floor, although the ER does them. The probe is too big for most kid's ears, and too many people were touching the outer ear, thinking they had the probe in far enough. Again, we find the axillary easy and reliable. Still requires good technique though.

We use a little sticker that is placed on the side of the child just about straight down from the nipple line midway from back and front. It is not under that axilla. We get a direct temp of the body. We get away from the possiblity of ruptures or fistulas from the props,cause kids move so much. Susan

I work ER and we do rectal temps on ALL ill kids under the age of 5 or 6 - depends a little bit on their cooperation. We NEVER do axillary temps. It seems to me that if a child is hospitalized an accurate temp needs to be assessed. What is the reasoning behind use the axillary temps? I'm not criticizing, just curious.

I work ER and we do rectal temps on ALL ill kids under the age of 5 or 6 - depends a little bit on their cooperation. We NEVER do axillary temps. It seems to me that if a child is hospitalized an accurate temp needs to be assessed. What is the reasoning behind use the axillary temps? I'm not criticizing, just curious.

We do axillary temps on all heme-onc patients, rectal on those 2 yrs and under. Over two years, you do have the psychological aspect. We never do a rectal on an abuse child or heme/onc.

At UNC Childrens Hospital in Chapel Hill were I did my peds rotation, it was axillary for every patient I had....except one 16 year old :)

At Wake Med where I'm doing my labor and delivery rotation, it's axillary on all the newborns. If I'm not mistaken, they use axillary on peds there, too.

I don't know about the ED at those hospitals, though.

what are the guidelines for taking temps for children under 2 years? Do you always use rectal or will tympanic or axillary do?

Our guidlines at WVU children's hospital are for all under two must have a rectal temp unless they are neutropenic or an order must be obtain not to. I.e. bowel issues. We also did a study on tympanic themometers and they were shown to not be accurate in children under 1 yr due to anatomyand too much room for error.

Shannon