title: Comparison of temporal artery and axillary temperatures in healthy newborns.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare temperature readings of temporal artery and axillary thermometers in healthy late preterm and term infants in an effort to standardize practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive comparative.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-bed, healthy mother/baby unit in an inner-city Level-1 trauma center, averaging 2,500 births per year.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy newborns (N = 125) admitted to mother/baby unit after birth, at least 35 weeks gestation, and weighing greater than 1,900 grams.
  
  
  METHODS
  Temperatures were taken at regular intervals per unit protocol. At each interval temporal and axillary temperatures were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Temporal temperatures were significantly higher (M = 36.9°C, SD = .59) than axillary temperatures (M = 36.7°C, SD = .68), t(124) = 6.74, p < .0001. Although statistical significance was shown between the two groups, no meaningful clinical difference was detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study findings supported a new nursing practice standard for measuring infant temperatures in our mother/baby unit. Using temporal artery thermometers is now our unit's standard of care for healthy newborns.
authors: Department of Patient Services, University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knoxville, TN 37920, USA. lhaddad@utmck.edu
authors: Lisa
authors: L
authors: Haddad
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Smith
authors: Kenneth D
authors: KD
authors: Phillips
authors: R Eric
authors: RE
authors: Heidel
mesh_terms: D001365:Axilla; D001831:Body Temperature; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012015:Reference Standards; D013699:Temporal Arteries; D013714:Tennessee; D062125:Thermometry / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards