This may be a silly question.. - page 2

..but google has failed to answer it, or either my googling skills are off today. As nurses, will we be taught to use otoscopes to check for ear infections and such? Or is that out of the scope of practice? I was just curious... Read More

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Jul 11, '12 by amoLucia

In my LTC positions, I'd be lucky just if I could find the scope and ear covers! Not too much use on 11-7, but I have used it.
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Jul 11, '12 by classicdame Guide

think of the otoscope as the stethoscope. You can assess, but you cannot diagnose. Will depend on where you practice as how often you use various types of equipment.

loriangel14 likes this.
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Jul 11, '12 by BelleNscrubs04

We learned...sort of. We covered them briefly in health assessment and then again in 3rd semester med surg. I think it's part of our state mandated curriculum. We didn't spend much time on them. We mostly just played around with them looking in each other's ears. The instructors seemed to think that knowing how to recognize one and put it together was most important.
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Jul 11, '12 by Kdavina

we were told to know what they are but not to worry about them because it was an advanced assessment
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Jul 11, '12 by PlumeriaSun

The only thing I use an otoscope for is to check on the status of the ear wax ball that I'm trying to flush out.

ashleyisawesome likes this.
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Jul 12, '12 by Esme12 Asst. Admin

Quote from Kdavina

we were told to know what they are but not to worry about them because it was an advanced assessment

Advanced assessment? An otoscope? Wow.......talk about "dumbing down" the RN.

You really don't use it much at the bedside.....but there are areas, like the ED, that it is used by nurses more often.
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Jul 12, '12 by loriangel14 Guide

I am a PN and we learned how to use them in school.I have used one in the hospital where I work.