change that is needed to ensure that there is accuracy in temperature measurement that will help in the right diagnosis

change that is needed to ensure that there is accuracy in temperature measurement that will help in the right diagnosis

Introduction

Body temperature is the ordinary crucial signs taken to help observe the well-being of the patient. Temperature readings differ depending on the temperature readings used. There are different ways of recording the temperature of a patient. One way is through oral temperature measurement, which includes tympanic temperature and temporal temperature. The second way is the rectal temperature measurement. Inaccurate temperature readings can lead to wrong diagnosis and unnecessary diagnostic approach. The research proposal will discuss the change that is needed to ensure that there is accuracy in temperature measurement that will help in the right diagnosis.

Problem

Body temperature is one of the frequently used factors in the healthcare system, and dependable tools must be used to give accurate information. Inaccuracy is an issue that affects the diagnosis of patients’ hence poor healthcare services. In measuring temperature, the method used is considered correct if the mean difference is less than0.2 to 0.5°C. The precise body temperature measurement is crucial for the exact valuation for core body temperature. It is difficult to identify the fever condition, especially patients without chills. Another problem that could lead to inaccuracy is poor reading. While reading the readings, a nurse may fail to read the correct measurement; this can lead to the wrong diagnosis.

Significance of the problem

An urban emergency department developed a diagnostic study to identify the exactitude of tympanic membrane and temporal artery thermometry to amount fever was carried out. Information was collected from grown-up patients whose temperature was measured using rectal temperature. 36% of the tympanic membrane and temporal artery analyses had a difference of 0.5°C from rectal temperatures. The temporal artery and tympanic membrane had cut marks of 37.5°C delivered more than 90% sensitivity to spot fever with72% in the temporal artery and 90% in the tympanic membrane. Therefore, according to the article temperature in the adult emergency department, oral, tympanic membrane, and temporal artery temperatures versus rectal temperature by Polly and colleagues, it is evident that no method can give the accurate temperature measurement.

Proposed Change

Tools used for temperature measurement that do not give accurate information should be changed. Therefore the new tools that are introduced should be more accurate for quality diagnosis and quality healthcare. Some limitations can impede the precise measurement of blood temperature in patients. These limitations include earwax and improper technique. Non-contact infrared skin thermometers measure temperature from far. It is accurate and reliable and useful for fever screening.

In the article temperature measurements with the temporal scanner: systematic review and meta-analysis by Håkan Geijer and colleagues, a search was carried out in PubMed, Web of Science and Embase. Selection of three articles e full-text reading was made. Risk of bias was evaluated. There was an estimation of pooled difference and limits of agreement. This estimation was done with an inverse change weighted method. Analysis of subgroup and sensitivity were carried out and estimated using categorized models. The result was specificity and sensitivity to detect fever. The pooled difference was -0.19°C; pooled sensitivity was 0.72°C and specificity of 0.94°C. The outcome indicated a trend towards underestimation of body temperature of patients with fever. This article shows that temporal artery thermometer is not accurate in replacing another method like the rectal method. The different result in different modes is an indication of inaccurate reading of body temperature.

Implementations

There is a need for change in the temperature measurement tools and improvement of the tools for better readings. The head nurses can lead in implementing change in the healthcare system that will ensure measuring tools are efficient and accurate. Head nurse should educate the nurses on how to use the equipment correctly to acquire actual results. The nurses should emphasize correct reading and recording. A mistake in reading or recording can lead to the wrong diagnosis. The head nurse should introduce new devices that are more accurate; an example of the digital device is a non-contact thermometer. This thermometer does not cause distress to the children, and it is fast. Factors like feces and eardrums cannot affect this thermometer; therefore, the readings cannot be changed.

Another way for nurses to implement change is by improving the tools used for measuring temperature. Ensuring activities that compromise the accuracy of oral temperatures are prevented can aid in giving accurate information. Oral temperature is compromised by activities like taking cold or hot beverage and increased breathing rates. Nurses should advise the patients to avoid these activities in order to have accurate results.

Timeline

Based on the above implementations, changes should have a timeframe for them to be effective. Through education, the head nurse should ensure that workers are aware of the importance of taking body temperature. They should take a period of one year in ensuring that the nurses know how to make the temperature of the patients accurately using the right equipment and diagnose the patients according to the findings. Through proper training, cases of misdiagnoses cannot be evident.

The introduction of other devices that are more accurate and modern should take a maximum of two years. This timeline will ensure that healthcare organizations look for the best equipment and learn how to operate the equipment. Here, it is crucial for nurses to learn how these tools work before using them on patients. Healthcare system should also ensure that the machine is more accurate and cost-efficient.

Patients need to be educated on the importance of accurate information in body temperature, and nurses should ensure that patients understand that these activities can affect the readings of their body temperature and ensure that they do not engage in activities that can interfere with the results of the readings.

Integration

According to change implemented, there are three groups that benefit from the change. They include:

• Healthcare management; When the difference is enhanced, morale is improved, creating quality work. The improved performance from each employee improves the overall performance of the organization thus builds the name of the healthcare organization. It is easy to monitor employees and make sure the analyses they make are accurate.
• Employees; the workload will be simplified because there are better and improved ways of measuring the body temperature. This reduces stress, which can be caused by repeating the whole process of measuring the body temperature if the first results were not fundamental change also encourage them to be loyal to the organization. They are also exposed to new information and gain experience brought about by change.
• Patients; when change is implemented in the healthcare system, it is done for the purpose of patients and ensuring that they are taken good care of. When the employees’ morale is increased, they can handle the patients with care and ensure their health comes first. The improvement of the old devices and the introduction of other methods are to provide the patients are treated well.

Resistance to change

Health workers may resist change because they see change as a threat to their jobs. Introduction of new devices to measure temperature, for example, will make employees think that they can lose their jobs. Due to fear of the unknown, some managers can also resist change because they are not sure if the move will help the organization grow or fall. Communicating with the employees helps in clarifying everything concerning change. When the head nurse communicates with the employees, there is a reduction of uncertainty. It is essential for the head nurse to negotiate with the management who are the resistors on different aspects which are related to change and making tradeoffs so that the concerns of both parties are given consideration.

Research results show that there was acceptance of the change. The results show that there is performance improvement among health practitioners. The adherence to the timeline is also an indication that change was taken positively. Speed of executing change was fast, and this shows that change was received positively.

Conclusion

In conclusion, change is essential; it helps in the development of the healthcare system. Change is needed in order to improve the healthcare system and enhance better results. Before implementing change, it is crucial to engage the concerned groups to ensure that everyone accepts change, and if there are people who do not agree, it is vital to convincing them to embrace change. This will help in preventing change resistors. It is essential for organizations to embrace change because, through evolution, new skills are learnt and creates new opportunities for the employees. The amendment also helps organizations improve in their weak areas. Change management is essential in ensuring standardized approaches and processes are used for efficiency.

References