Question

When using a tympanic device to obtain a patient's body temperature, you should:

Select one:
a. be aware of extrinsic factors that can skew the reading.
b. hold the device in the patient's ear for 30 to 60 seconds.
c. irrigate any wax from the ear with lukewarm water first.
d. ensure that the patient is in a laterally recumbent position.

Answer 1

b. hold the device in the patient's ear for 30 to 60 seconds. When using a tympanic device to obtain a patient's body temperature, you should be aware of extrinsic factors that can skew the reading. Holding the device in the patient's ear for 30 to 60 seconds is the correct procedure.

Step-by-step explanation:

When using a tympanic device to obtain a patient's body temperature, you should be aware of extrinsic factors that can skew the reading. Holding the device in the patient's ear for 30 to 60 seconds is the correct procedure. It is not necessary to irrigate any wax from the ear with lukewarm water first. Additionally, ensuring that the patient is in a laterally recumbent position is not necessary for obtaining a tympanic temperature.