Nurses sound off! Steth belt clip or around the neck?

Nurses General Nursing

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How do you carry your stethoscope?

Do you keep it around your neck, tucked in your pocket or do you have the belt clip?

Do you even keep it with you?

Or do you use the (shudder) public, staff use steths?

Also, what kind do you have and what color?

I have a Littmann Cardiology III in Plum. (Thank god it was a dark plum.)

Specializes in NeuroICU/SICU/MICU.

I keep mine in my tote bag most of the time. It goes around my neck when I'm doing assessments. I have a bright red Littmann cardiology III :cool:

Bear in mind that, while it may look cool to wear it around one's neck, a stethoscope worn that way creates an easy opportunity for a person who intends harm to the person wearing it. Be careful.

Specializes in PACU, ED.

I've tried a belt clip but it seemed to be more trouble than it was worth in my practice, PACU. I just keep them nearby. I have two stethescopes, standard and pediatric, both in Navy and with nice soft geltip earpieces.

Specializes in Psych.

I wear mine around my neck, and keep it there all shift usually so it's easy to keep up with.

Mine is a Littman II Classic SE in black (so it matches everything) ;)

Specializes in Sub-Acute/Psychiatric/Detox.

Mine mostly stays around my neck. Its an Littmann Classic SE II in a Neon type color. I used to put it in my pocket when helping out transferring a patient, but the Stethoscope quickly would get caught on other things. Unless I am working in psych my Stethoscope is always around my neck.

Mine stays in my bag. We have lots of isolation patients with their own stethescopes.

Specializes in Cardiology.

Side pocket on my scrub bottoms.

I wore it around my neck for awhile but it would get in the way during procedures (dressing changes etc) and it just felt uncomfortable.

cheers :)

Specializes in Med/Surg, LTAC, Critical Care.

I have a cheap Littman, black. I had a nice blue one for 7 years until a few months ago, it literally FELL APART while I was assessing a patient (that made me look real good:D). I wear it around my neck. Easy access and it makes me feel purdy.

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

either in my bag, which is in my patient(s) room with me, or over the back of the chair we use for charting. i don't keep it around my neck because that way it picks up the neck oils and will become hard and permanently curved.

Specializes in Gerontology, nursing education.
Bear in mind that, while it may look cool to wear it around one's neck, a stethoscope worn that way creates an easy opportunity for a person who intends harm to the person wearing it. Be careful.

I agree. I've been choked with my own stethoscope. Not enjoyable. Don't wear a gait belt around your neck (yup, have seen it done!), don't wear a necklace to work, don't wear earrings or piercings that can be torn out of your body by an agitated person...

Better to look uncool and stay safe.

Can't stand anything around my neck. I think it comes from working on a head injury unt and then from having posterior neck surgery. Used to use a hip clip but now I wear cargo pants with lots of pockets so keep it in a pocket.

I carried mine around my neck until!!!! I started working at a maximum security prison. A stethoscope around your neck is considered a weapon at you can quickly be strangled with it. If caught with it around your neck the discipline is corrected by immediate termination. I did see that happen to others.

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