Tympanic vs digital thermometers

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Specializes in Aged Care/Dementia/Palliative.

Ok .. I'm stumped .. this is one of my assgnment questions and I can't find ANYTHING valid .....:uhoh21:

What is the difference between a digital and typmanic thermometer?

Any help (with references please) would be lovely. None of my textbooks actually give seperate difference ... if anything the thermometer is being called the 'digital tympanic" . go figure ....:angryfire

Thanks :uhoh3:

Sally (Australian Student EEN)

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Yes - tympanic thermometers (ear thermometers) are typically digital.

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

are you asking what the difference is between the two. if so the tympanic is placed on the forehead you push the button and bam you have a temp.. the other digital goes under the arm...i love my tympanic ...

ok .. i'm stumped .. this is one of my assgnment questions and i can't find anything valid .....:uhoh21:

what is the difference between a digital and typmanic thermometer?

any help (with references please) would be lovely. none of my textbooks actually give seperate difference ... if anything the thermometer is being called the 'digital tympanic" . go figure ....:angryfire

thanks :uhoh3:

sally (australian student een)

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are you asking what the difference is between the two. if so the tympanic is placed on the forehead you push the button and bam you have a temp.. the other digital goes under the arm...i love my tympanic ...

the head one is a temporal thermometer.

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The head one is a temporal thermometer.

Right - temporal is the one I do not trust. I sat in on a demo from the manufacturer and he took my temp. I can't remember the exact numbers but I had a temp over 100. I felt fine. We waited a bit and he took it again and it was in normal range.

I've checked this out in the ER .. taken a temporal and then taken a typmanic and then an axillary . .huge range of temps.

I think the technology is all digital . .. . for all three types.

I'm not sure about your question OP.

steph

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Specializes in Aged Care/Dementia/Palliative.

Thanks for everybody's help.

I finally pinned down a nurse at work and asked her the same question (and yes, it's a bit cryptic, but I guess that's why they're the teachers and I'm the student eh?)

Answer:

Tympanic Thermometers are used to measure the CoreTemperature through the tympanic memranes.

Digital Thermometers reads the body temperature through a mucous membrane or the axilla.

Both pieces of equipment need to be set to Average Core temperature or Axilla temperature to get an accurate reading. Axilla readings are not reliable but do give an indication. Tympanic readings are less invasive and fast. Eg: You wouldn't use a Digital thermometer in somebody who has a jaw injury, nor would you use it on a chid in the mucous membranes in case they chew it!

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

oh %#% i know that ,i have got to get some sleep....:banghead:

right - temporal is the one i do not trust. i sat in on a demo from the manufacturer and he took my temp. i can't remember the exact numbers but i had a temp over 100. i felt fine. we waited a bit and he took it again and it was in normal range.

i've checked this out in the er .. taken a temporal and then taken a typmanic and then an axillary . .huge range of temps.

i think the technology is all digital . .. . for all three types.

i'm not sure about your question op.

steph

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Thanks for everybody's help.

I finally pinned down a nurse at work and asked her the same question (and yes, it's a bit cryptic, but I guess that's why they're the teachers and I'm the student eh?)

Answer:

Tympanic Thermometers are used to measure the CoreTemperature through the tympanic memranes.

Digital Thermometers reads the body temperature through a mucous membrane or the axilla.

Both pieces of equipment need to be set to Average Core temperature or Axilla temperature to get an accurate reading. Axilla readings are not reliable but do give an indication. Tympanic readings are less invasive and fast. Eg: You wouldn't use a Digital thermometer in somebody who has a jaw injury, nor would you use it on a chid in the mucous membranes in case they chew it!

Wait im confused with this, A digital thermometer is a thermometer that displays the temp digitally isnt it? And most tympanic thermometers i have seen are digital( but i think they use infra red to acualy measure the temp). oral thermometers can be digital as well,and i just seen one of my RN's use a rectal digital thermometer.

there are also chemical thermometers

Tympanic and rectal sites measure the core body temp

I guess what i am confused by is why are you trying to figure out the difference between a tympanic and a digital thermometer, when a tympanic thermometer usually is digital, and measure the core body temperature. its not like comparing a Mercury glass and digital thermometers . or Tympanic and Rectal temps

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Specializes in Aged Care/Dementia/Palliative.

I'm sorry, perhaps I didn't explain myself properly

I am an Australian Student Nurse (EEN = Endorsed Enrolled Nurse). The quesion was in an assignment I had to do. Don't ask me why .. ask my teachers !!

Anyway, here in Australia, the low-down on thermometers is as I said:

Tympanic for the tympanic membranes.

Digital for the mucous membranes or axilla.

They are actually significantly different pieces of equpment, because you can't usea digital thermometer in a tympanic area.

On another note, over here in Australia, Rectal thermometers are no longer recommended (athough I know they are accurate, they are no longer official unless you have absolutely no other option, as is mercury thermometers now 'illegal' to use)

I know Tympanic thermometers are digital, which is why I needed help, because absolutely NOTHING gave me the difference anywhere I looked.

But thanks for everybody's input ...;) very much appreciated.

Cheers

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