Stethoscope covers OK for men?

[leftysoftball]

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

[icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN]

if you can get some very narrow mesh tubi grip, that works great over a stethoscope..so it doesnt slip off or feel weird on your neck. Disposable too. I like the paracord idea.

[JLoya]

Im shocked no one has mentioned it yet.... Use surgitube man... Its free, and you can change it as often as you need to. The other side of it is that the oils from your neck can also break down the tubing (over years of repeated wearing with no cover).

[icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN]

fantastic idea, better than the mesh tubigrip or elasticised cotton type medi grip.

[corbinRN]

There are no rules (aside from maybe dress code). It really is up to what YOU like, not what others like :)

I personally don't like stethoscope covers, but does that make me more manly? I don't think so.

[OwlieO.O]

Covers are never acceptable for either sex. It's an infection control issue. Even if you wash it you're still going from patient to patient throughout the day (unless you have time to wash between patients).

[Don2014]

Apparently the oil from your skin can degrade the tubing. Maybe the cover will aslo extend the life of the scope? I just got a Littmann Cardiology III ( good sounding scope BTW) and want it to last a while.

[mariebailey, MSN, RN]

Who cares whether anybody else on the planet approves of your stethoscope cover?!? If your sensitive skin needs it, assume any naysayers will get over it when they realize there are more important things, such as patients, to worry about. Here's a good choice:

[mariebailey, MSN, RN]

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?

I do see what your saying, but: he can still clean the diaphragm/bell, which is the only part touching the patient. I wear scrubs from room to room, but hospital policy doesn't dictate that I should bathe in chlorhexidine or 70% ETOH between patients that come into contact with my scrubs when repositioning, moving, etc..

[JM-RN]

I have used a Littman Cardiology III for some time. I had to send it back twice to have the tubing replaced because the oils from my neck wore down the tubing to the point of cracking. I still do not use a cover, but I rarely put it on my neck anymore. I just keep it in the cargo pocket of my scrubs. To each his own. If you want to use a cover, go right ahead. I'd be more embarrassed about having a Bears logo on it than the cover itself. LOL