WATERTOWN, Mass., April 8, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A new, nationwide survey reveals that nurse managers and staff nurses rank temporal artery thermometry #1 when it comes to overall preference. Nearly half (45%) of survey respondents expressed a significant preference for the temporal artery thermometer, as compared to rectal (4%), axillary (5%), ear (20%) and oral (26%). When it comes to accuracy, nearly twice as many nurses said they rank the temporal artery thermometer higher than the ear thermometer, in keeping with numerous published clinical studies across all healthcare settings supporting this and other critical factors.
Another important consideration for nurses taking temperatures is a thermometer’s ease of use. Once again, the temporal artery thermometer surpassed all others in this survey. Approximately 55% of nurses indicated it is the easiest method to use compared to rectal (2%), axillary (5%), oral (18%) and ear (20%). Overall, a full 49% of respondents said that they recommend temporal artery thermometers to their patients, family and friends.
“These results mirror those of similar surveys conducted among pediatricians, affirming that nurses and physicians agree that accuracy and ease of use contribute to their reliance upon and preference for the Temporal Scanner,” said Dr. Francesco Pompei, CEO of Exergen Corporation. “It is rewarding for us to know that nurses appreciate the superiority of temporal artery thermometers over other types, as nurses play such a vital role on the front line of the healthcare community.”
The survey was conducted through AllNurses.com, a website devoted to topics of interest to nurses. According to a recent Gallup Survey, the public continues to rate nurses as the number one most trusted professionals, based on their honesty and ethical standards.
Exergen markets two models of the TemporalScanner thermometer: a professional version for doctors’ offices and hospitals, and a consumer model sold in major retailers including Walmart, Target, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Costco, Babies “R” Us, Toys “R” Us, Kroger and BJ’s. More than one billion temperatures are taken each year with the TemporalScanner. It is used in thousands of hospitals, clinics, and pediatricians’ offices in the country, as well as in millions of homes. For the third year in a row it is the number one selling retail thermometer. The published studies supporting the Exergen thermometer accuracy cover all ages from preterm infants to geriatrics and all care areas from hospitals to homes. For additional information, visit www.exergen.com.