Stethoscope covers OK for men?

Nurses Men

Published

Sounds kinda petty but... I'm moving from an EMT job to working in an Urgent Care facility. In the field, I wore my scope around my neck because it was covered by the collar on my uniform shirt. Now that I'm in a scrub top all day, the scope tube really irritates my neck.

Is it acceptable for men to wear scope covers? (PS, not anything frilly or girly. I was thinking plain solid or Chicago Bears, you know, something manly.)

Thanks

I had my wife make a small plain black scope cover out of satin. The scope cover was made thin so it does not bunch-up and look fluffy like store bought covers. The satin not only absorbs and distributes my sweat but is also smooth enough so that my neck does not become irratated.

Due to the thin cut of the cover and the sheen from the material, without an indepth visual examination, it is not easy to tell that there is a cover at all once I am wearing it.

If this is thread is about the manliness of stethoscope covers, I have to say I don't find stethoscope covers un-manly, but satin is definitely not manly. I can't think of a single manly item of clothing made of satin.

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Lefty - wear a cover if it makes your happy and/or if it prevents skin irritation. Don't sweat what other people think - this about your comfort and ability to delivery quality nursing care.

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Specializes in CVICU.

The short answer is, "no".

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Specializes in Cvicu/ ICU/ ED/ Critical Care.

I second some of the others. I use a belt clip. Easier to clean.

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Specializes in nursing education.

Personally, I have covers I made out of t-shirt material in solid colors that look unisex/nonfeminine (dark green, black, navy). It protects the tubing and my neck from each other. I can throw them in the wash after a shift.

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Specializes in CEN, CFRN, PHRN, RCIS, EMT-P.

As long as it's not rainbow colored you will not be hit on by other males lol, dude, it's just a cover!

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Stethoscope covers carry germs: Read Milam, Michael, W.; Hall, Melanie; Pringle, Teri; Buchanan, Kay, 2001: Bacterial contamination of fabric stethoscope covers: The velveteen rabbit of health care?. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology 22(10): 653-655

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Stethoscope covers harbor nasty bacteria and should not be used. You are supposed to be cleaning your stethoscope between patients for a reason: to prevent the spread of bacteria and other bugs that can make your patients sick. Think about it: you wash/sanitize your hands between patients, and wipe your stethoscope too. So WHY would you want something on there you cannot clean when going from patient to patient?

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Specializes in ICU.

Nope, I don't have a rationale behind the answer, but no.

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Specializes in Cardiac.
I had a Paramedic who covered the stethoscope with a paracord - military grade tied in a pattern like the survival bracelets you see. The only disadvantage is that you can't pull it off and wash it.

I know a nurse with a para cord stethoscope cover and it looks badass!!! It comes in all different colors so definitely customizable!

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Boxers.

If this is thread is about the manliness of stethoscope covers, I have to say I don't find stethoscope covers un-manly, but satin is definitely not manly. I can't think of a single manly item of clothing made of satin.

Physical or mental...one way or another...future "wound" nurse.

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You may only wear a stethoscope cover if you are simultaneously wearing a scrub jacket.

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