Identify the item shown in the picture below?

AIIMS Delhi NO - 2018

Nursing Foundation

Easy

Appeared in: AIIMS Delhi NO - 2018

Explanation

The item shown in the image is a classic mercury-in-glass clinical thermometer.
This instrument is specifically designed to measure human body temperature, typically in the range of 35°C to 42°C (95°F to 108°F).
Its key identifying features are the silver mercury-filled bulb, the calibrated glass stem, and an internal constriction that holds the reading, which distinguishes it from non-clinical thermometers.

Option A: A disposable thermometer is typically a thin, flexible plastic strip with heat-sensitive chemical dots that change color. The item in the image is a rigid glass and mercury instrument.
Option C: A Snellen chart is a non-instrument chart used for testing visual acuity. It consists of rows of letters of decreasing size and is unrelated to temperature measurement.
Option D: An alcohol thermometer looks similar but is filled with alcohol, which is dyed (usually red or blue) for visibility. They are used for general, non-medical purposes (like weather) and lack the constriction needed for clinical use.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Identification of common medical instruments as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Accurate temperature measurement is a fundamental nursing assessment used to detect fever (a sign of infection or inflammation), monitor disease progression, and evaluate a patient's response to treatment.
Due to the risk of breakage and mercury toxicity, mercury-in-glass thermometers are phased out in most clinical settings in India and worldwide. Nurses must be proficient in using safer, modern alternatives like digital, tympanic, or temporal artery thermometers.
What if the thermometer was digital? A digital thermometer would have a plastic body, an LCD screen to display the temperature numerically, and a metal probe tip. The reading would be much faster, and it would eliminate the risk of mercury exposure.

How to Approach the Question

Step 1: Carefully observe the image to identify the object's key features. Note the glass construction, the metallic-looking liquid, the bulb at the end, and the measurement scale.
Step 2: Recognize the object's general function as a thermometer based on its appearance.
Step 3: Evaluate the given options. Immediately eliminate 'Snellen chart' as it is a tool for vision testing, not temperature measurement.
Step 4: Differentiate between the remaining thermometer types. The object is a reusable glass instrument, not a 'Disposable thermometer' (which is a plastic strip). The silver liquid (mercury) and design for body temperature identify it as a 'Clinical thermometer,' not a general-purpose 'Alcohol thermometer' (which has colored liquid).
Step 5: Conclude that 'Clinical thermometer' is the most precise and correct identification for the instrument shown.

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