Nurse # 5 Memoir

     Present day innovations allow the medical profession to monitor the temperature with devices that are widely accepted. The strip on the forehead is an easy one to perform since it actually seems like fun to do.  The ear thermometer, with its removeable, disposable cap permits the device to be used over and over again, only throwing out the tip.

     In the dark ages, no not really that long ago, temperatures were taken with a glass wand with mercury in its structure.  The thermometers were soaked in green soap for 2 to 3 hours, then scrubbed with another solution of green soap while the person wore gloves.  After each individual wand was scrubbed, they were then rinsed 3 times and put into an alcohol bin.  The tray had to have enough alcohol in it to completely cover each of the thermometers. These devices were left for 5 to 8 hours for sterilization before use. Just after removing them from the alcohol they were shook down to below 96 degree level before delivering to a patient.

    During the time  I was a student nurse, I was told everyone got a rectal thermometer except for  pre and post rectal surgical patients.  The rectal and oral thermometers were of course kept separate but treated the same way in preparation to give to a patient.    I entered  Mrs. Bons room and introduced myself as the student nurse Miss B. and then told her of the reason for my presence. While I cradled the rectal thermometer in a clean paper towel, dipped in KY jelly, I asked her if she could put that in herself. She was a medical patient, which meant she previously got rectal thermometers for monitoring her temperture. Mrs. Bons assurred me she was able to do that herself, so I left the room.

    It was considered courtesy to allow a person some privacy to insert the rectal thermometer in without some student nurse watching and  hovering over them. After 5 to 7 minutes, I returned to retrieve the thermometer to see that Mrs. Bons had it hanging out of her mouth.  When I removed it, she politely asked what the tasteless stuff on the end was supposed to do. I did not have the heart to tell her she inserted a rectal thermometer in her mouth and changed the subject to something more pleasant.