Temperature taken at what point of the examination?

Normally, when someone gets examined, vital signs (TPR) are taken first, and the "T" stands for temperature, regardless of the route. But are there any of you who have experienced a temperature taking, say half way through, or near the end of the examination? And if so, were you understanding why or told why?

When I was 13 the nurse took my rectal temperature at the end of the exam.

Since my mom was the only one taking my rectal temperature, it was always done before my yearly exam. I was never touched by a nurse. That was during my infant and toddler years at the end of age 4.

Remembering take rectal by a old nurses

My temperature was always taken before an exam. As it was taken rectally, it was the last vital sign to be taken. I was taken into the triage room, blood pressure, pulse, etc... were taken and my mom (or whoever brought me) was questioned about my symptoms. Finally, the triage room door was closed, my clothes were removed, and depending on my age, I was either placed over my mom’s lap or on the table face down and the probe was placed in my bottom while I was kicking and screaming.

It was taken at the beginning of each exam after I am weighed and had my blood pressure taken. It would be done with me positioned lying on my stomach or with me turned onto my side. The latter position has occurred more in my adult years, especially when the nurse has used a digital thermometer. Regardless of the position, I am first sitting on the table, my bottom crinkling the paper with a good view of the nurse reaching for the thermometer and KY. She snaps on a glove and I hear, "Let's get you ready for your exam. I need to take your temperature now." If that isn't enough, she will pause and remind me that all termps are taken rectally for annual exams. A ritual that has acquired so many different associations and memories.

It was always taken at the start but one time when it was really high, they took it again after the doctor had examined me.

Grew up in the late 60s / 70s but i don't remember having an RT taken at the doctor's office. It was always oral with the glass thermometer, up front an early by the nurse along with blood pressure. I was in the hospital once for a gastro issue at age 10; the nurses would take it around the clock under my arm I think because I'd been vomiting so much. Only my mother took my rectal temperature until about age 5 or so. This probably doesn't help the thread.

The family doctor that I went to, never took rectal temps on me. He probably felt that as long as a kid can hold a thermometer under their tongue, why humiliate them ?

I came to the health department because I was sick. Before exam because I came. In there for a head cold.The nurse explain only rectal temperatures for people that are sick and or getting vaccination for something. Plus they needed a more accurate temperature no matter what age.

Mine has always been taken at the beginning along with the other "vital signs". The rectal temp is normally the last of which is done as it is a good prelude, logistically for the removal of clothing. I follow the same process with my patients, as well.

My experience has been that it is taken right after the nurse has me undress and put the gown on. She has me lie on my tummy when she takes my temp.

It has always been taken at the start of my exam following my weight check and BP. The thermometer is always on the tray along side the table or on the counter waiting for me. It's impossible to miss when I enter the room and begin to prepare, "everything off for the doctor" and know that soon I will be told to turn over!

Usually at the beginning when she was doing the vital signs

My visit to the Dr. or hospital was pretty standard. First shoes came off and on the scale for height and weight. Next I was ordered up on the exam table and undo my pants. My pulse was checked and then the nurse ordered me to lie down while she went to the counter and took out a thermometer from the jar and opened up the vaseline. I knew what was about to happen and she would say "roll over on your belly" and I would protest because I was afraid of nurses but usually complied. Next thing I knew she was pulling down my underwear and in went the thermometer followed by "hold still like a good boy". After 3 minutes the rectal thermometer was removed, Vaseline wiped off and my temperature was announced. Then my undies went back up and the doctor came in for the exam and more often than not after that, the nurse reappeared with a small tray and now I started protesting or crying because of what i was getting next If I was in the hospital, I had to take off my clothes and put on a gown, open in the back. While I was changing the nurse would leave and when I climbed into the bed She would return, pulling the curtain around the bed and again as soon as she would say "roll over on your belly" and I would protest as usual. Well of course eventually I would roll over and I'd feel the gown open and she would pull my undies down and in went the thermometer. I would feel that familiar coolness as she said "hold still like a good boy". Again after 3 minutes out came the thermometer and my underwear was pulled back up, knowing the worst was yet to come when the gurney was pulled alongside the bed and then the nurse pulled the curtain around the bed once more...

Usually was taken at the beginning of exams along with other vitals. Can only recall one other occasion when it was taken later on. I that case the reasoning was to make sure I had a temperature prior to getting an injection. Wound up getting both.

My rectal temperature at the beginning of exam because I was getting some vaccines. When I saw the walked into the exam room with a red top prob themomter and some KY jellly and told me to roll over so she can get a rectal temperature. Before I rolled over. I asked her will it hurt she informed that I'll be fine. So I pulled my pants and underwear down to the bottom of my behind and saw her use the KY jelly on the thermometer. I rolled over and she spead my cheeks on my behind. Then she told me to relax and take a deep breathe. Then I felt the thermometer go into my behind and she held it in place. Then I begged her to take it out and informed her it was uncomfortable. She told me themomter is not coming out until it registers which took two minutes. And I was relieved when the rectal temperature was over.

When I take someone's rectal temp if it is just for seeing what your temp is I usually do it in the beginning of the exam.

If part of the exam will be done half way through the exam. If you have a fever then will take rectal temp again at end of the exam.

When I do take rectal temps I will always tell the patient and if need be explain how and why. If I am told had uncomfortable experiences before or it hurts when you have a rectal temp done I will do a rectal exam.

But if need to take temp rectally it will be done.

I'm assuming that these temps are being taken in a play type setting. I would find it hard to believe that medical offices still use them. I like to start a play session with a rectal temp myself. Call it an anal Ice breaker!

In a real exam, my experience is that temperature is taken early on, if it’s done at all. And orally or by ear.

In a play exam, I like to have it be up front as well. I think it’s similar to the doctor’s office experience, and it also adds an element of invasiveness early on in the exam. And also leaves the patient with a false sense of security that the worst is over in their exam. :-) I’ve played with some who include rectal temp later in the exam, usually before or after rectal exam. While it kind of makes sense to lump in rectal stuff at once, I like to spread it out during the course of the exam.

In my area, it is taken right at the start of a real exam. Nowadays it is always tympanic and leads into the basic E.N.T. inspection.

In a play exam we always use mercury-in-glass rectal thermometers lubricated with petroleum jelly. More often than not it is done during the early stages of the exam. Flip up skirt or lower pants to mid upper thigh, lower panties, lubricate thermometer, insert slowly and consult second hand of watch. Slowly remove instrument, hand patient a tissue, fill in medical chart. Thermometer is placed on the used equipment tray for cleansing.

Accuracy is dependent on technique, not on which type of instrument is used. We calibrate all types of thermometer every three months and use a lookup table to apply any corrections.

Rose

My experience at the pediatrician's office was that I was called into the exam room, told to undress to my underpants, either by myself as I got older, or my mom undressed me. That said, she was always accompanying me in the room. Then I was weighed, had my height measured as well. Following that, I would be told to sit on the paper-lined exam table and my blood pressure and heart rate would be checked. After that was completed, I would be anxious as I awaited instruction, which was typically to turn onto my tummy as she retrieved the rectal thermometer and got the lubricant out of the cabinet.

For me it was much like the others. The nurse would tell you to undress down to your underwear. She then left the room. You got undressed with one of your parents there. Minutes later she returned. First thing was your height and weight, then sitting up on the crinkly paper lined table she took your blood pressure. After that, you knew what was coming next. I would literally tense up inside of me, especially in my teenage years. It was an experience I didn't want to go through. Then the words came out: I need you to lie down on the table and turn over on your tummy. As I did this she went over to the small table where certain things were stored, like cotton balls, gauze, alcohol, tongue depressors, and of course the rectal thermometer which was immersed in a jar of alcohol, along with a huge jar of vaseline. As I was lying down I could see her shake the thermometer down by snapping her wrists and then applying a huge amount of vaseline. She then approached me, and took down my underpants. The next thing I knew the thermometer was in my rectum and she stood next to me the entire time and held it in. When finished she wiped off the vaseline with a tissue and read the thermometer. Then my underwear was pulled up and she told me to sit up on the table again. It was sheer stress but I somehow got used to it.

In a play exam it has occurred as exam works its way down. but i would love to have a scenario where it is taken ss a pre exam pants lowered just below but. Then exam begins and later rechecked

Growing up my Dr then and even my Dr now have the same routine weight then temperature then blood pressure. Of course the method they take it has changed.

Growing up my Dr then and even my Dr now have the same routine weight then temperature then blood pressure. Of course the method they take it has changed.

@Chrissylynnrn2be Forgive me, but I'm confused! You've told me and others that your Mom is a Pediatrician/Adolescent Med provider and keeps a practice at home as well as works the ER, and manages your health care as well as that of your younger sister. You also always state that your temperature is taken exclusively rectally. "they take it"? Who is they if your Mom acts as your PCP to you and both your younger sister (who wants to be a doctor) and your older sister who is already a nurse? This response kind of contradicts what else you've been saying. Perhaps you'll want to clarify?

Also, in one post you mention that you had an experience when you WERE in college, past tense. You state you're 19 and your nick suggests you want to be a RN (...rn2b). So, again, last time I checked that requires some schooling if not a BSN. So, did you drop out? Did you begin a 4 year program at 15? Did you buzz through it in a year or 2 at Warp 6?

If your experiences are true, my goodness, you have lived a lot of life in your 19 years. My gut and evaluation says more to the point, you've lived several different zity lives and lay low for a while once you're booted and then come back with a new name, but, same M.O. right down to location, and harrassing the real medical providers on site into making appointments for you at their facilities in the NJ, NY, PA area, which I'm sure if any of us were foolish enough to schedule would never come to fruition. I was just reminded by someone of your most recent past life as "beckylynn1" several months ago!

I recall you from previous incarnations which is why I blocked you. Your M.O. is so distinct and so alike to those of the past that you've inspired me to go to Netflix and binge on the series "The Returned" tonight!

I once read an old pediatric office procedures manual that instructed their nurses to always take a child’s blood pressure before taking their temperature. Although it didn’t specifically mention “rectally” it said that taking a child’s temperature caused “excitement” which resulted in a higher than normal blood pressure reading. At my pediatrician’s office the nurses only did eye exams, weight, height and temps in that order, and the doctor always took my blood pressure later on. I wonder if my blood pressure was ever higher after a rectal temp.

Now, they take it first thing befor I see the dr. When little, I would talk off my pants N underwear and the get on my tummy for the RT. I guess that was be f ore seeing the dr yoo.

In a play exam, I prefer to do the HEENT (head ears eyes nose and throat) with the patient's clothes on. This is a surprisingly intimate exam where you have your face very close to the patient using the otoscope (I like them to be able to smell my perfume). This starts the relationship in a non-threatening way. Then, I will say, "Okay, let's have you remove all of your clothing and we'll start with your vitals by taking your rectal temperature." This is where power exchange happens. The patient must now submit to me and knows I will soon be inserting a thermometer into their bottom (anticipation, embarrassment, humiliation).

Nice observation, @Miss_Sarah! The intimacy of the the preliminaries can create a surprisingly erotic experience for both, as a lead-in to the later submission. In fact, you don’t even need to mention the word “rectal”... By the time you say, “We’ll start with your temperature”, it is abundantly clear where you intend to insert the thermometer.