Thermometer help

Specialties School

Published

Hello everyone,

I have never posted on this site before but have spent a lot of time reading posts over the last year. I have been trying to find a thermometer that accurately takes temperatures. I have tried eveything from laser, temporal to oral thermometers and have had difficulty finding a thermometer that I feel confident in the readings. As we know, this is an essential tool to have in our offices especially during flu season. Does anyone have any suggestions on a brand, type, etc that they have used in thier offices and have had accurate results with? Thanks in advance for your time and recommendations. It is greatly appreciated.

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I just finished 5 weeks as a camp nurse and I must have taken 30 temps/day. We used only the ear thermometer and it was a popular brand, but I cant remember it not. Thermoscan maybe. We always did both ears and they were within 0.2 degrees of eachother.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

I agree with the previous poster, that properly used, the Thermoscan ear thermometer is pretty reliable. I always check both ears, also.

I have not found a temporal thermometer that seems accurate or easy to use. My home temporal thermometer (Exergen) requires one to scan the forehead, then place the thermometer in the depression below the earlobe. This is awkward to do when you are facing the child, and my kids think it's strange if I stand behind them to take their temp.

I researched other brands, some of which were simpler to use, but required 2 full minutes between readings. In a busy office, that would seem like an eternity.

I don't like oral thermometers for sanitation reasons, but believe them to be the most accurate, especially in older children who can reliably report whether they've had anything to drink, and who can be trusted to keep the thermometer in place.

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Specializes in Community & Mental Health, Sp Ed nursing.

Does anyone still use tempdots?

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I found some tempdots in my med cart not long ago..hahah. They were pushed way back in a section that we normally don't use. Hated those things.

Not a school nurse, but I love my tympanic (ear) thermometer. I have had several brands and all were accurate and easy to use. We have one floating around our SNF but it always seems like its 'missing' when I need it :(

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